Ben Affleck is navigating a new chapter in his life after his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, with a steadfast commitment to s0briety. After the couple’s 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 add_i_ction have been well-documented. In 1997, he stopped drinking but faced setbacks over the years, including reh-a-b stints in 2001, 2017, and 2018, the latter involving an intervention by his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.
“My behavior is my responsibility entirely…I think I was pretty articulate about that.”, Affleck told The New York Times in 2020. His commitment to s0briety has remained unwavering, and Affleck now wants to build his future relationships with someone who shares his values around sobriety.
When Affleck moved out of the $68 million mansion he shared with Lopez and into a bachelor pad in Brentwood, California, friends were worried that the strain of the breakup could jeopardize his hard-won sobriety.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Lopez reached out to Garner for support, one of the few people who could genuinely relate to his struggles. Affleck was upset that others feared a relapse, but he reaffirmed his dedication, with one source noting, “Like every alc0h0lic, Ben just wakes up with one goal in mind—to stay sober for that day.”
Affleck’s sobriety journey is not only about personal resolve but it is also about setting boundaries for his mental and physical well-being.
“What I did was drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.”, he admitted to The Hollywood Reporter.
Affleck says that the choice to avoid alcohol is his way of ensuring his family and loved ones never have to watch him relive the struggles he once faced.
Since the breakup, the actor 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.
When Affleck reclaims his independence, he is approaching relationships with renewed caution, prioritizing his well-being above all else. He 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.
