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Ben Affleck calls divorce from Jennifer Garner ‘the biggest regret of my life’

‘Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame,’ says actor in new interview

Clémence Michallon
New York
Tuesday 18 February 2020 22:14 GMT
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Ben Affleck praises 'wonderful' Jennifer Garner

Ben Affleck says his divorce from Jennifer Garner is “the biggest regret” of his life.

The actor opened up to The New York Times about his personal life, including the end of his relationship with Garner and his history with alcohol abuse and sobriety.

Affleck and Garner, who have three children together, were married in 2005 and divorced in 2018.

“The biggest regret of my life is this divorce,” Affleck said of the split.

He elaborated on his feelings, adding: “Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame. It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.”

Affleck went on to say it’s not healthy for him to “obsess over” over past “failures”.

“I have certainly made mistakes. I have certainly done things that I regret. But you’ve got to pick yourself up, learn from it, learn some more, try to move forward,” he added.

The actor recently played a former high school basketball student who struggles with alcoholism and is offered a job as a coach at his alma mater in The Way Back.

The film will be released on 6 March in the US and 24 April in the UK.

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