Ben Affleck: Jennifer Lopez was bad for career
Ben Affleck has finally dropped the bomb about his time with Jennifer Lopez, saying that dating her was not the greatest decision he's ever made. Actually, we'd think Reindeer Games would top that list.
"I was no longer in control of my life," he told Contact Music. "I thought I wanted certain things, but I didn't. I got lost. I felt suffocated, miserable and gross. I should never have gone down that route or got sucked in to all the publicity."
All the negative press from 2002 to 2004 made life difficult he says. Even more difficult than making Gigli together?
"I was typecast as myself. Too many people weren't getting past what they read about me. That was damaging. I can tell from experience it's bad for you, and bad for your career. So I took a break, went away for a while and let things calm down."
By letting things calm down, he means no longer working steadily and marrying Jennifer Garner, with whom is is very happy to have two children.
"Work has taken a back seat. My job is not as important as it was. Saying that having a family changed my life is a cliche. But it's true -- it re-arranged my life and made me see clearly."
With any luck, it also helped cure that awful mouth-breathing thing he does.
[Photo: Bennifer in 2003. Getty Images]


Make this your daily (heck, hourly) stop for a fresh serving of pop smarts and cool things from around Tampa Bay and the nation. Compiled by tbt* jack-of-all-trades Joshua Gillin and his merry band of rogue journalists, it pokes fun at ridiculous celebrity worship, collects entertainment tidbits and features fun links to amuse and amaze you and your friends.

I was under the impression it was his acting ability that was bad for his career.
Posted by: Banglijk | July 13, 2009 at 10:01 AM
The comments all sound like he was talking about how he regrets allowing himself (and making decision to) go down the road of super-celebrity. Only the headline says that he was talking about JLo. I bet if you read the whole interview, you wouldn't be able to support the headline as being related to the interview - but then nobody would read it either.
Posted by: Jonathan | July 13, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Darth Vader was a mouth breather and he managed to be pretty succssful.
Posted by: Gordon | July 13, 2009 at 07:02 AM
Geez dude, dump on the gal after how many years apart, move on. Actually YOU were not very good for your own career, take the blame yourself.
Posted by: Jimmg | July 13, 2009 at 02:46 AM
Isn't he the new Jack Ryan? They're overdue to make a new Tom Clancy book film adaptation.
Posted by: John | July 12, 2009 at 11:40 PM
adam-then you and he must be related
Posted by: Mrs. Mike | July 12, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Um Mrs. Mike... shut up. It's a joke. Ben Affleck breathes through his mouth like he's a mongoloid.
I like when Ben says work has taken a back seat. It seems to have done that for pretty much his whole career.
Posted by: Adam | July 12, 2009 at 09:26 AM
rather rude to comment on a person being a mouth breather. did you ever stop to think that maybe some people have to? that very possibly some people cannot breath through their noses and whether or not they like it they have no choice. now if you could just get over that awful pretending to be a journalist thing like would be good.
Posted by: Mrs. Mike | July 11, 2009 at 10:12 PM