Ben Affleck has addressed Jennifer Garner’s decision to speak for the first time about the end of their 10-year marriage and insisted the pair continue to be on “great terms”.
Garner's decision to break her seven-month silence in an interview with Vanity Fair was a surprise for everyone but Affleck, who told The New York Times he had no qualms about her remarks within the interview.
“She felt like she wanted to discuss it and get it out there and get it over with, so she could say, ‘Look, I already talked about it — I don’t want to do it again,” Affleck explained.
“It’s fine. She’s allowed to talk about it.”
Garner spoke candidly about their relationship in the aftermath of announcing their separation last month. Their split was followed by a media storm and rumours of infidelity on Affleck's part, denied by both Affleck and Garner, but the pair remained silent on all other reports. A Hollywood power couple, they were tabloid favourites throughout their marriage and their amicable relationship, demonstrated by the family outings they continue to enjoy, continues to fascinate the tabloids.
In her interview, Garner did touch on the nanny reports, which she summarised as “bad judgement” on Affleck’s part, but was keen to stress she had no regrets about marrying him. “I would go back and remake that decision," she said. "He’s the love of my life. What am I going to do about that?“
But Garner added that her eyes were “wide open throughout the marriage” and admitted: “When his sun shines on you, you feel it. But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow." The actress also had some strong words about the “mid-life crisis” phoenix rising out of the ashes back tattoo that Affleck had after their split: “A phoenix rising from the ashes. I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.”
Affleck, who was interviewed by the NYT just a day after Garner's interview came out, appeared unfazed by the furore it caused.
“Jen’s great,” he said. “She’s a great person. We’re on great terms. I just saw her this morning, so that’s the reality that I live in.”
