Jennifer Lopez Breaks Silence On Ben Affleck's Comments About Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Lopez has made it clear that she supports Ben Affleck, and took no issue with his comments during a recent interview with Howard Stern about his ex-wife Jennifer Garner. She
told People that rumors she was offended by Affleck's statements are false.
“This story is simply not true,” Lopez said. “It is not how I feel.”
She added, “I couldn't have more respect for Ben as a father, a co-parent, and a person.”
Affleck faced considerable backlash for what he told Stern about his former marriage and treatment for alcohol addiction. After saying he'd probably “still be drinking” if he were married to Garner, he added, “It's part of why I started drinking. Because I was trapped.”
On Wednesday, Affleck made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to clarify his comments, and say how he was upset that his daughters Violet, 16, and Seraphina, 12, and son Samuel, 9, would “think I would ever say a bad word about their mom.”
Affleck maintained that his words were misconstrued and edited to become “clickbait.”
“They had, literally, taken the conversation I had for two hours and made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I said,” he said. “I had gone on and said, like, how much we respect each other and cared about each other and cared about our kids and put them first and went through our stuff. And they said I had blamed my ex wife for my alcoholism and that I was 'trapped' and just made me out to be the worst, most insensitive, stupid awful guy.”
He added, “It's not true. I don't believe that. It's the exact opposite of who I am and what I believe.”
Lopez also feels that the characterizations of the interview are incorrect. A source close to the couple told People that the couple is “in a really great space and really happy.”
While being interviewed by Stern, Affleck talked about how he consider his kids' feelings before renewing his relationship with Lopez — the couple called off their first relationship and engagement in 2004.
“Was there a hesitation on your part, because now you're a dad?” Stern asked Affleck.
“It crossed my mind for sure,” Affleck said. “My responsibility to my children is the highest responsibility. I don't want to do anything that is painful or destructive to them if I can help it.”
The couple has been spending time with one another's children, and an insider says that they're looking forward to being together with them over Christmas and the New Year's.
“For Jennifer, Christmas is all about the kids,” said the source. “She loves Christmas and makes it very special for them!”