Ben Affleck Has A Non-Negotiable He Will Not Compromise, As He Starts To Date Again After His Break Up From Jennifer Lopez
Ben Affleck is navigating a new chapter in his life post-divorce from Jennifer Lopez, with a steadfast commitment to sobriety. After their highly publicized split earlier this year, insiders say Affleck, 52, is cautiously re-entering the dating world but with one non-negotiable: he will only date someone sober or in recovery.
“Ben has not given up on relationships and finally feels ready to move forward and start dating again,” a source told DailyMail.com. However, his journey to recovery remains a priority. “These past two years have been tough for Ben, and as he begins to heal, one thing is very clear: his recovery comes before anything.”
Affleck’s challenges with addiction have been well-documented. He stopped drinking in 1997 but faced setbacks over the years, including rehab stints in 2001, 2017, and 2018, the latter involving an intervention by his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.
Reflecting on these experiences, Affleck told The New York Times in 2020, “My behavior is my responsibility entirely…I think I was pretty articulate about that.” His commitment to sobriety has remained unwavering, and Affleck now wants to build his future relationships with someone who shares his values around sobriety.
When he moved out of the $68 million mansion he shared with Lopez and into a bachelor pad in Brentwood, California, friends worried that the strain of the breakup could jeopardize his hard-won sobriety.
However, the Daily Mail reported that Lopez reached out to Garner for support, one of the few people who could genuinely relate to his struggles. Though Affleck was upset that others feared a relapse, he reaffirmed his dedication, with one source noting, “Like every alcoholic, Ben just wakes up with one goal in mind—to stay sober for that day.”
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Affleck’s sobriety journey is as much about personal resolve as it is about setting boundaries for his mental and physical well-being. He reflected on his struggle with marriage, admitting to The Hollywood Reporter, “What I did was drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.” The choice to avoid alcohol, Affleck says, is his way of ensuring his family and loved ones never have to watch him relive the struggles he once faced.
Since the breakup, Affleck had a short-lived romance with Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, a member of the renowned Kennedy family. However, insiders clarify that the relationship was brief and well before his reunion with Lopez. “They met because Ben is from Boston, and when you live in Boston, the Kennedy family is royalty,” one source told DailyMail.com.
As Affleck reclaims his independence, he is approaching relationships with renewed caution, prioritizing his well-being above all else. The actor has learned firsthand the importance of self-care in recovery, making it clear that any future partner must share in his commitment to sobriety—a non-negotiable he’s simply unwilling to compromise.
