You know, Ben Affleck is growing on me. I had always thought he was kind an ass, and kind of a dolt. It's amazing what marriage to Jennifer Garner and things like the following story has done for Ben Affleck's image.
Affleck spoke at the high school commencement ceremony of his friend Joe Kindregan, 19, a Falls Church High graduate whom Affleck met about 10 years ago when Kindregan visited the set of Forces of Nature. The teen-ager has ataxia-telangiectasia, a rare, degenerative diseases. The Make-a-Wish Foundation flew him to the movie's premiere.
Ben Affleck told high school graduates Friday he was an unlikely person to give them advice - then gave it anyway."I haven't been in space, I'm not a politician, I'm not a super hero - I'm not even a gangster," he said at the commencement for Falls Church High School, near Washington, D.C. "I've only pretended to be all of those - in some cases just barely."
The actor - the subject of much media coverage - told the seniors: "What others say about you means nothing. What you say about you means everything. Your job is to make other people see you as you are."
Paying tribute to Kindregan, Affleck said, "I'm here because what I learned about the distance between how you see someone and who they are, I didn't learn in Hollywood, I learned from a classmate of yours, my friend, Joe Kindregan."
Aw shucks Ben, you've got me welling up a little here.
(WENN)
Many more photos of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner (including some of Jennifer Garner clearly being moved by the ceremony) are after the jump.
(Hint: To open larger images of the photos in a new window or tab, chose the photo, and use the right click option on your mouse.)
(WENN)
Jinxy McDeath says:
That was touching, he really seems to be a great guy.
ilovethenitelifesays says:
Sure he's a nice guy.
But he's also a carousing pig who loves to gamble, booze it up and immerse himself in skanky women.
All that we've been seeing these past couple of years is Ben trying to establish a clean image--probably 'cause he has his eye on entering the political arena.
But he's got a dark side.
He ain't no Matt Damon.
Gwyneth did not call him a knucklehead for nothing---don't let a few well chosen photo-ops fool you.
Elaine says:
Thank you, ilovethenitelifesays. You said it really well. My thoughts exactly.
Why_do_I_care? says:
It appears that the former two posters have never made mistakes! In their lives! Yay, you!
ilovethenitelifesays says:
Hey I get what you mean and don't mean to be judgemental---just trying to be real about this guy.
He's very smart, very charasmatic and very crafty.
He did a real number on JenLopez and I admire how she rebounded from it.
He did all his crap on her---cheated on her and broke her heart. Karma for her, I guess, since she cheated on Chris Judd with Ben.
Ben was enjoying the ride right up until he wasn't enjoying it anymore and then lets Jen take the fall for the Bennifer pukefest.
I'm just saying, he aint so great.
dat_dOod says:
lmao, it's so funny to read people's comments like THEY ACTUALLY HAVE MET AND/OR KNOW THE PERSON(celebrity) THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. all of ya just shaaaaddup.
Sandra says:
Geez, the guy's not the antichrist. Like Jennifer Lopez is such a pure innocent. He seems like a pretty normal guy to me - a cute but fratty, boob-ish guy who's had problems with drugs and women, but who ultimately settled down. I'm a big Kevin Smith buff, and since Ben Affleck is in most of his movies, I've seen a lot of him and watched a number of behind the scenes featurettes on the DVDs. I won't pretend I know the guy, but he seems pretty likeable. Also, did you know that he has been very good friends with that kid in the wheelchair for 10 years now? Don't know why I'm sticking up for the guy to such an extent, but I like he and Jennifer Garner as a couple (and what a cutie patootie kid they've got, too.)
ilovethenitelifesays says:
dat
normally, I'd have to agree with your point but don't you miss the point of these threads---its just sport for most of us and not meant to be taken too seriously.
However, once in a while we do get a little 'inside scoop' about these folks.
Ben shot a movie in my hometown and without giving too much away he partied with a gaggle of my pals and then went on to some notorious shenanigans.
I have a relative who is a producer and worked with Chris Judd---and heard from the horse's mouth about the Bennifer thing when it was still undercover.
Maybe Ben is reformed and/or committed to changing his addictive behavior. Fine.
But on a celebrity gossip site, there ain't nothing wrong with----well, gossiping about celebrities. So chill, pal.
Jess says:
Well, keeping a friendship with this kid for 10 years is quite a feat and hassle to gain a convenient photo-op if that is true.
Although there is a dark side of Ben, who hasn't done bad things in the past? It's not like we're saints and have a right to not give him the benefit of the doubt. It seems like he really settled down after this marraige to Jen Garner.
If he really does want to enter the political arena...so what? If he's passionate about his views and wants to run, then go for it. There's a lot of people, who are politicians full-time, who should not be running this country.
Katie says:
I just want to say how much I LOVE seeing more posts from ya'll on the weekends. I'm addicted during the week and now on the weekends too.
Elaine says:
Like ilovethenitelife, I also had some inside scoop on Ben in the early days of his engagement to Jennifer. Trust me, he does have a dark side.
ilovethenitelifesays says:
Okay I'm off to bed but one more thing on this.
Ben has a kind of 'tell' when he's not 'in' the relationship. Kinda faraway look in his eyes and he does a 360 on his GQ-ness and gets an unmade bed look......
JenG is a pretty little thing but there ain't no way she's got a sexual arsenal ala JLo and he dumped JLo.
Still, 'cause he's a hopeless player doesn't mean he isn't an all around nice person whatsoever. Just not prime husband material.
larice says:
The last thing to do is trust posters on gossip sites. So nobody is 100% clean. How do you know Jennifer Garner is not JLow in the sack? After all, JHo's first husband hinted that she's not that great in bed. Grace Kelly looked all innocent but was an Ava Gardner when it came to affairs, dating 3 different men at the same time... So don't judge people you don't know and that you have never met. As if everybody is going to believe 10th hand reports posted on the internet... We all know about Ben's past, but he seems to have his issues under control now, and for the moment seems to be doing fine.
"He is not Matt Damon", well Matt Damon is no angel either.
larice says:
As for Gwyneth Paltrow's comments about Ben being a knucklehead, at least he's been a gentleman and has never badmouthed his former girlfriends, and we all know that GP has dated quite a few upcoming young actors in the 90's. Because Paltrow's enormous Elektra complex ruined all her previous relationships and it's only once her father died that she found a lasting relationship, and this is not gossip it's fact. And apart from endlessly talking about her snobbish Spence school she has never shown any real deep intelligence, Michael Douglas had to intervene to help her to get into some college in California. So her opinion on Ben is not too important.
larice says:
As for Gwyneth Paltrow's comments about Ben being a knucklehead, at least he's been a gentleman and has never badmouthed his former girlfriends, and we all know that GP has dated quite a few upcoming young actors in the 90's. Because Paltrow's enormous Elektra complex ruined all her previous relationships and it's only once her father died that she found a lasting relationship, and this is not gossip it's fact. And apart from endlessly talking about her snobbish Spence school she has never shown any real deep intelligence, Michael Douglas had to intervene to help her to get into some college in California. And let's not forget her namedropping of Spielberg, etc... So her opinion on Ben is not too important. He has always shown more humor and intelligence than her when guesting on talk shows.
larice says:
As for Gwyneth Paltrow's comments about Ben being a knucklehead, at least he's been a gentleman and has never badmouthed his former girlfriends, and we all know that GP has dated quite a few upcoming young actors in the 90's. Because Paltrow's enormous Elektra complex ruined all her previous relationships and it's only once her father died that she found a lasting relationship, and this is not gossip it's fact. And apart from endlessly talking about her snobbish Spence school she has never shown any real deep intelligence, Michael Douglas had to intervene to help her to get into some college in California. And let's not forget her namedropping of Spielberg, etc... So her opinion on Ben is not too important. He has always shown more humor and intelligence than her when guesting on talk shows.
larice says:
As for Gwyneth Paltrow's comments about Ben being a knucklehead, at least he's been a gentleman and has never badmouthed his former girlfriends, and we all know that GP has dated quite a few upcoming young actors in the 90's. Because Paltrow's enormous Elektra complex ruined all her previous relationships and it's only once her father died that she found a lasting relationship, and this is not gossip it's fact. And apart from endlessly talking about her snobbish Spence school she has never shown any real deep intelligence, Michael Douglas had to intervene to help her to get into some college in California. And let's not forget her namedropping of Spielberg, etc... So her opinion on Ben is not too important. He has always shown more humor and intelligence than her when guesting on talk shows. He doesn't take himself as seriously as she does for herself.
lainie says:
Larice, you obviously have a soft spot for Ben.
But your whole Electra complex thing re: Gwyneth was a bit over the top. There's nothing dysfunctional about a woman that has a terrific father as a basis to judge the men in her life by.
I agree with ilovethenitelifesays re: her/his observations about Ben. He seems to tire of his woman after a fixed amount of time and then by his own account, he just becomes so lazy in the relationship and in his appearance that the lady dumps him. Which lets him off the hook.
He rebounded with JenG waaaay too fast after such a passionate affair with JenL. Baby came waaay to fast when they were still in 'the honeymoon phase.'
I have no doubt that JenG is a loving, dedicated wife to Ben. But there is nothing like the sizzle of two hot Leos coming together (Bennifer). JenG looks great on the redcarpet but on a day to day basis, she's mighty frumpy.
Ben may be digging the novelty of that after the ostentation of JenL but the pendulum will probably swing back again.
Ben is a very young man. I'm truly not saying this with cynisism but realism----once the honeymoon stage is over, it'll be interesting to watch if this 'new, improved' Ben is the real deal.
razzie says:
Those of you without dirt, cast the first stone!
steven says:
BEN AFFLECK IS BOX OFFICE POISON!, HE DESPERATELY NEEDS PUBLICITY BECAUSE HIS CAREER IS OVER. HE IS JUST USING THIS CHARITABLE ACT TO MAKE IT TO THE HEADLINES. LET'S FACE IT HE WAS NEVER A GOOD ACTOR. HE HAD SEMI-GOOD LOOKS AT ONE POINT BUT NOW HE LOOKS LIKE CRAP. HIS BOYISH FACE TURNED INTO A SOUR LOOKING WATERMELON, YUCK!!
AS FOR BEING A GENTLEMAN, HE IS NOT!!!. HE'S PUT DOWN HIS EX-GIRLFRIENDS SEVERAL TIMES, I THINK GWYNETH AND JLO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GIVE HIM THE RUN AROUND. BEN IS NOW A SORRY ASS WHO SETTLED FOR FRANKENSTEIN'S FACE JENNIFER GARNER. THAT CHICK IS SO UGLY, I WOULDN'T FUCK HER FOR ANY MONEY IN THE WORLD. LIKE BEN, SHE IS ALSO BOX OFFICE POISON, MAYBE SHE'LL GET A LITTLE AUDIENCE ON HER NEXT CRAPY FILM THANKS TO JAMIE FOX BUT SHE'S AS SOUR AS A LEMON. THE AFFLECKS SHOULD PLAN THEIR RETIREMENT ASAP, THEIR BOTH UGLY, PATHETIC AND BOX OFFICE POISON.
anonymous says:
Geez, so many Ben A. haters here! I defend the fellow, as I am a recovering alcoholic. I was not in the Ben/JLo relationship, so I don't know who screwed WHO over...They really seemed like an ODD couple! Jennifer Garner is like the girl next door--and they have a GORGEOUS baby daughter. I am all for people who try to change their lives, and the people around them, around for the better. I know that I am NOT the same person that I used to be--thank goodness! We all deserve a second chance.
Rick Hilton says:
BA along with his frightening looking wife needs to stop posting shit about my beautiful daughter. My advice to them is to stay out of the public eye, mainly for the public's sake. We are tired of seeing their horrible faces and their third rate movies. Also stop parading your little troll daughter around, she scares the life out of me and everyone I know. A little troll for a dauthter and a disgusting looking wife are your punishment, but yours alone not to be share with the public.
Now have a nice day,
Rick Hilton
Vince says:
I saw Ben Affleck recently in Brentwood and I was shocked to see how old he looks in person. He's big built and he has a huge ass like my grandpa. This dude is no Angelina Jolie for sure, I bet he only went to the cripple's graduation because they offered a killer buffet bar.
melissa says:
I went to that High School! Class of 2000 we got the local weatherman....
Ben's new stripper/hooker says:
The kid is the real hero for putting up w/the strong cottage cheese smell comming out of Ben's balls. The guy needs to cure his venereal diseases because they are ruining his private parts. His mini-winnie hardly ever works and his hepatitis C is affecting his brain activity. He often talks nonesense about people he's met in his life. This poor old fart is so over, I feel sorry for this lousy angry inch.
Steph says:
ALL you Ben Haters, YOU SUCK. BEN is AWESOME!!
scooter says:
Jennifer Garner is ONE UGLY MAN/WOMAN. I watch the KINGDOM last night and she RUINED THE MOVIE FOR ME!!! MY GOD, why would ANYONE PAY FOR HER UGLY ASS to be on the BIG SCREEN! I didnt know that she was in it, or I would have watched another movie!
Damn, did I mention, she is FUGLY!!!?????
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