How Matt Damon supported BFF Ben Affleck through Jennifer Lopez divorce and addiction battle

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For almost thirty years, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have shared a close friendship while building their careers in Hollywood.

During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on Monday, 55-year-old Damon emphasized that he’s always been loyal to his friend, 53-year-old Affleck, even through difficult times.

Stern directly asked Damon if he was willing to help Affleck through his difficult personal challenges, which included two divorces and ongoing struggles with addiction.

Damon assured everyone that the rumors weren’t bothering their relationship. He added that he had been present through everything that was happening.

Affleck was clearly touched by the comment, and told his friend that it meant a great deal to him, explaining that’s what he considered true friendship to be.

As someone who’s followed celebrity wellness journeys for years, I remember when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced their separation back in 2015. It was also around that time he publicly shared that he’d been working on his sobriety and had finished treatment for alcohol addiction. It took a lot of courage to be so open about both personal changes at once.

In 2018, after finishing a 40-day program for alcohol addiction, he publicly shared a statement.

Overcoming addiction is a constant, challenging process, not something you simply ‘finish’ with treatment. It requires ongoing commitment. He shared that he’s fighting for his own well-being and for his family. He’s embracing help from others with humility and gratitude, and hopes to inspire others facing similar struggles in the future.

I was so thrilled when he married Jennifer Lopez four years after their initial connection! Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be, and they ended up divorcing after only two years together. It was definitely heartbreaking for all of us fans.

The couple married without a prenuptial agreement, despite having a combined wealth of $550 million.

The actor and director, along with the singer and actress, secretly married at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022. This came 18 years after they initially got engaged in 2004 but then called it off.

The couple renewed their vows on August 20th at Ben Affleck’s property near Savannah, Georgia.

Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce exactly two years after her wedding in Georgia, but court documents state she and Ben separated on April 26th, 2024.

Jennifer Lopez and her partner started dating again in early 2021, shortly after she ended her engagement with Alex Rodriguez.

In a recent interview, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reminisced about their unique journey to fame, which began when they were both in their mid-twenties.

Damon said becoming famous can hinder personal growth because people start treating you differently. He feels they were fortunate to have already lived a bit – being 25 and 27 – so they’d had some experience navigating life before becoming well-known and attracting attention.

The two finished the thought in unison, bluntly adding, ‘And nobody gave a s**t.’

Affleck and Damon both felt that the strong foundation of their friendship and shared outlook early in their careers allowed them to cope with the challenges of becoming famous.

Affleck playfully suggested that having someone to confide in helped him stay grounded. He explained that experiencing fame and success alongside another person provided a crucial sounding board – someone to ask, ‘Is this crazy?’, or simply offer honest feedback like, ‘What are you doing?’

The conversation became more relaxed when Stern jokingly asked if they had already spent the $600,000 they made from Good Will Hunting.

‘Well, it turns out, Howard, you have to pay these things called taxes,’ Affleck joked.

Damon shared the shock, explaining it was a real eye-opener. They were confused, wondering why this person received half and who else was entitled to the same amount. It made them question everything.

Affleck described the experience as feeling like a divorce – constantly splitting things up. He immediately added that the comment wasn’t intended to be about any specific person.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon became friends in high school and have worked closely together on creative projects ever since.

This new movie, The Rip, is the third time these filmmakers have worked together in the last five years, after previously making The Last Duel and Air.

Matt Damon recently told GQ he was really touched by Peter Jackson’s documentary about The Beatles, Get Back. The film showed how the band never got back together to make music again, which resonated with him.

Oh my gosh, when I heard Damon talk about it, I almost lost it! He said he actually cried when he realized how amazing it could be. He turned to Ben and was like, ‘Seriously, who cares if everyone thinks we’re in everything? We’d be insane not to work together while we still can!’ It was just… everything. The thought of them together again just gets me so excited, and hearing him say that? Pure gold!

The new Netflix film, The Rip, debuting January 16th, features Ben Affleck in a bold, showy role, while Matt Damon plays a more subdued and thoughtful character – a pairing that echoes their chemistry in Good Will Hunting.

Damon quipped that someone needed to take the lead on the film. He then playfully suggested his colleague might simply be a more adaptable actor than himself.

Affleck laughed but suggested the dynamic had roots in how they were first perceived in Hollywood.

He thinks Matt has always been seen as the safer, more dependable choice for a main role. He doubts Matt would want to switch places with him.

Despite the ribbing, Affleck was effusive in his praise.

Working with Matt is always a masterclass for me. He’s just so genuine and down-to-earth – it’s honestly hard to tell when he’s even acting! He’s a true pro at bringing realism to his roles, and it’s something I really look up to. It’s incredibly humbling to share a scene with someone that talented.

In addition to starring in the film, the two actors also produced it through their production company, Artists Equity, which they started in November 2022.

The company is developing a diverse range of projects, including the films Air, Kiss the Future, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, Small Things Like These, and The Accountant 2, as well as The Instigators, a remake of Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Unstoppable.

In 1998, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck earned their first Academy Awards for writing the original screenplay for the movie Good Will Hunting.

When Ben Affleck won the award, he was only 25 years old, making him the youngest person ever to receive it. Remarkably, that record has lasted for almost 30 years.

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2026-01-13 02:04