Ben Affleck Addresses Rumors He Was Drunk During His Viral Moment With J.Lo at the Grammys

By Radhamely De Leon
Published March 16, 2023, 3:31 p.m. ET

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Ben Affleck

The Bennifer resurgence was not something anyone was expecting, yet here we are. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have shared a number of memorable moments over the years — both now as a married couple and back in 2003, when they were first engaged — but their most recent appearance at the Grammys became a viral sensation. Some might say it even out-performed their Super Bowl commercial for Dunkin’ Donuts.

The Oscar-winning actor, producer and director recently spoke candidly about his marriage and career in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where he cleared the air about that viral moment at the Grammys. 

Footage from the ceremony shows Trevor Noah sitting next to the couple as he delivers a joke about being on the phone with his mother. Behind him, Affleck and Lopez can be seen having a private conversation before Noah turns to talk to J. Lo on camera.

Rumors began to swirl about the couple after the ceremony aired, with some even saying it looked like she was snapping at him, while others thought that Lopez was chastising Affleck for drinking. Lipreaders even tried to translate their interaction, but now we’re getting the inside story from Affleck himself.

He claimed to THR that he “had a good time” at the Grammys, referring to the ceremony as his wife’s “work event” since Lopez was presenting the first award of the night: best pop vocal album. 

“I saw [Grammy host Trevor Noah approach] and I was like, ‘Oh, God.’​​ They were framing us in this shot, but I didn’t know they were rolling. I leaned into her and I was like, ‘As soon they start rolling, I’m going to slide away from you and leave you sitting next to Trevor,’” he explained. “She goes, ‘You better fucking not leave.’ That’s a husband-and-wife thing.” 

He also noted how “interesting” it was to hear rumors that he was drunk at the event. “I’ve gone to events and been pissed off. I’ve gone and been bored. I’ve gone to award shows and been drunk, a bunch. Nobody ever once said I’m drunk. [But at the Grammys] they were like, ‘He’s drunk,’” he said.

Affleck has sought treatment for his alcoholism multiple times throughout his career. His journey towards sobriety was so public that he said he became “one of the poster boys for actor alcoholism and recovery.” 

Regarding the rumors, he said, “That raises a whole other thing about whether or not it’s wise to acknowledge addiction because there’s a lot of compassion, but there is still a tremendous stigma, which is often quite inhibiting.”

He added, “I do think it disincentivizes people from making their lives better.”