Ben Affleck lied about his midlife crisis back tattoo, it’s real and still there

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Do you remember when Ben Affleck was spotted on the set of his film, Live By Night, sporting a giant colorful back tattoo of a phoenix? That was in 2016 and he claimed the tattoo was fake for the movie, which no one watched to confirm whether it made an appearance or not. Jennifer Garner made a reference to the tattoo in her Vanity Fair interview, saying that she refused to be the ashes the Phoenix was rising from. Then we saw a paparazzi photo last year where Ben’s shirt rode up and the bottom of the tattoo was visible. So that was additional confirmation that he lied his ass off about it being fake. He wasn’t really properly called out for that though. Well now there are photos of him training for a new movie, with Charlie Hunnam, Oscar Isaac and Garrett Hedlund, where he’s shirtless and the tattoo is fully visible. So he’s being called out by People Mag for lying, which is a bold-ish move by a usually celebrity friendly outlet. We don’t have the photos as they’re exclusives by the agency, but you can see them here, on People Magazine. Let’s see some of People’s write up.

Almost two years after claiming his massive back tattoo was fake and something he only got “for a movie,” Ben Affleck was spotted showing off the ink while shirtless in Hawaii.

Affleck, 45, was photographed during a training session alongside Charlie Hunnam, Oscar Isaac and Garrett Hedlund as the costars prepared for their upcoming film Triple Frontier.

The back piece, which is a full color picture of a phoenix taking flight, completely takes up Affleck’s back.

Although the public got its first glimpse of Affleck’s tattoo in the summer of 2015, shortly after the actor and Jennifer Garner announced their split, it wasn’t seen in full until December of that year while the actor was filming Live by Night.

While at the time PEOPLE reported the inking was the real deal, in March 2016 Affleck claimed it was just a temporary thing.

“[It’s] fake for a movie,” Affleck told Extra’s Mario Lopez. “I actually do have a number of tattoos but I try to have them in places where you don’t have to do a lot of cover up they get sort of addictive, tattoos, after awhile.”

[From People]

This begs the question – if he’s lying about the tattoo being fake, which is something that is so easily verifiable and permanent, what else is he lying about? Like how much of a gaslighting “I didn’t do that, you’re crazy” a-hole of a partner must he be? Also, he’s getting into shape again, right? I wonder how long it will be before he f-cks this up. I know that sounds so cynical, but that is his pattern. There’s news that The Batman, Ben Affleck’s standalone Batman movie, is scheduled to begin filming in 2019. Does he think things will change enough in a year for him to want to work on that film, or is he just putting it off?

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are shown outside of church on Sunday. Credit: Backgrid and WENN

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119 Responses to “Ben Affleck lied about his midlife crisis back tattoo, it’s real and still there”

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  1. anna222 says:

    Of course he did.
    Breaking: Ben Affleck is a talented self destructive douche bag.

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      Ben Affleck lies. It’s what he does. “No, I’m not back on the sauce,” “I definitely am not banging that nanny,” “my ridiculous, super realistic, ultra hideous back tattoo is only a stick-on!”

      • kayla says:

        This is accurate. There isn’t a single thing that comes out of his mouth that can be believed. His actions, however, ARE the truth. The years of cheating on his wife. Having a fling with his kids’ nanny. Drinking and drugs. The Finding Your Roots debacle. Preferring to be elsewhere when his kids have events. Etc. Shookus would be better off without him, too, and I hope she sees the light. This guy is a huge mess and there is no fixing him.

      • TwoPac says:

        At least, when pressed, he allegedly told his poker buddies in a bet that J Lo actually has a beautiful derriere. He could have been an awful, mean drunk, but he was complimentary. Says “something”?

      • still_sarah says:

        That really is an ugly tattoo. If he was going to get somethings that big and prominent, he should have picked a better design. I don’t even like the colors.

      • Shotcaller says:

        Lol true on all points.

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      “Self-destructive douchebag”–yes. And I couldn’t care less what’s on his (or any other douchebag’s) sweaty back.

  2. Adele Dazeem says:

    And this, kids, is what’s called ‘when you are your own worst enemy.’ Textbook case.

  3. grabbyhands says:

    HA! I knew it wasn’t a fake. What a foolish lie to tell.

    This has been my favorite reaction to it.:

    https://twitter.com/Ceilidhann/status/974750308701270022

  4. yiza says:

    just yuck

  5. Loopy says:

    ‘ which no one watched to confirm whether it made an appearance or not. ‘ Bwahahahahha..i tried watching the movie.Just.could.not.finish.Utter Rubbish!

  6. Margo S. says:

    Lol. As if people are going to see him staring in The Batman. Boy no. No one wants to see that. Cast another actor.

  7. Valois says:

    Not gonna lie, the only reason I read the people article was the mention of Garrett Hedlund.

  8. Jussie says:

    Classic Affleck.

  9. Who ARE these people? says:

    Figured it out. He’s just a schlub.

  10. someone says:

    Has he always had the cap tattoos on his shoulders?

    As JLo said – the tattoos are too colorful. And I can’t make out that it is a phoenix, it’s so busy.

  11. kate says:

    If i were Jen G, this tattoo alone would have been a cause for divorce. That is an irreconciable difference if I know one.

    • Beth says:

      You would divorce a husband because you didn’t like his tattoo? That’s a little too picky. Lots of men and women have tacky tattoos, (not all tattoos are cool, pretty, and meaningful ), but their spouses were able to ignore it and stay with the person they love. I’m not an Affleck fan, so I know Jennifer had plenty of other reasons to leave, not just because of an ugly tattoo

      • K-Peace says:

        Um, I think Kate was making a joke, and a funny one at that, about Jen divorcing Ben over the tattoo.
        (For the record, I would divorce him over it too. Anybody that would put that hideous monstrosity on their back, especially being an actor who must sometimes have to show his bare torso in films, has a few screws loose, IMO. Not to mention how he lied so blatantly about it.)

      • kate says:

        Actually, I was just joking @Beth, altough this tat is really shockingly ugly^^
        And we know for a fact Jen G would not have left Ben for something like a tattoo when she stayed through his years of gambling, drinking, cheating and general assholery. Girlfriend does not love herself.

      • Who ARE These People? says:

        Given his history, I would wonder if he got it while drunk, or over the course of several episodes – you can’t do that all at once, can you? I would question his judgment. And I would question, given his drinking, whether he got it safely.

      • effeff says:

        I probably would, actually. I couldn’t get turned on by someone with that covering their entire back. I would need a divorce or open marriage post- giant ugly vibrant back art.

    • Ehhhh says:

      Yes. If the cheating and addictions didn’t kill any attraction she had left for him, then surely the tattoo did. It’s one of the ugliest tats I’ve ever seen.

    • Lizzie says:

      HAHAHAHA

    • Veronica says:

      My sister nearly broke up with her fiancè because he tattooed a giant skull on his chest halfway through their courtship, lol. She was LIVID.

    • minx says:

      It’s hideous. He’s a mess.

      • Justwastingtime says:

        That nicely sums it up. If he wants to continue to act in leading roles, he can’t continue to look worse than most of my social aquaintences – none of whom are actors.

  12. Mia4s says:

    The psychology of someone who thought that tattoo (not just the size, but the theme) was a good idea….the PSYCHOLOGY. My god, I need to lie down.

    I’m still interested in the fact that he’s in this movie. Of course casting changes for a million innocent reasons, people change their minds, or sometimes early rumors are flat out wrong…but…last summer they were saying this would star Ben AND Casey Affleck. Now here’s Ben, no Casey. Like I say, could be nothing, but I sure hope it is something.

    On the other hand I hope we see some more Latino actors. Aside from Isaac, that’s a very white lead ensemble for a movie in South America.

    • Stella Alpina says:

      I’m thinking: the psychology of someone who thinks he can maintain the lie that a permanent tattoo is fake. How delusional. He would have to be covered up at all times to hide the truth, which is not possible in his case.

      Ben lied about the tatt. He tried to cover up the fact that some ancestors long ago were slave owners. He’s willing to lie about minor things. He is such a phony.

      • Imqrious2 says:

        Considering all the drinking and drugs, it could be quite possible that he really did forget what he previously said!

        Man, that is on ugly-ass tat. Smh 😱😖

      • Really says:

        I always thought it was odd that Jen would comment on it if it were fake. Seeing his shirtless dad bod and her amazing arms at the Oscars, I’m pretty sure she can kick his ass.

    • mela says:

      fug tat

  13. Dana says:

    Now we know what Jennifer Garner was remembering at the Oscars.

    • tracking says:

      LOL! Her comment about taking umbrage at being the ashes in his tattoo was hilarious. I’m pulling for her to be the phoenix. He’s an idiot.

      • kayla says:

        Please. She wasted 12 of the best years of her life on him and still says that she wouldn’t have “chosen” to end it. That’s no achievement.

      • kate says:

        The nanny was the thirtiest, tackiest famew***e I have seen in a long time but without her, I am convinced Jen would still be watsing her time on this jerk.

      • Tulip Garden says:

        @Kayla,
        I think you are just using a bit of hyperbole right? I mean I don’t think either of them consider 3 children and a life built together “wasted” just because it didn’t last. Sadly, divorce, or no marriage at all but a break up, is kind of the norm now. All things considered, I think that they are handling the aftermath of their relationship pretty well.

        @Tracking,
        I adored Jennifer’s “taking umbrage” comment about refusing to be the ashes! She has been very gentle and kind with her post split interviews compared to what Affleck deserves. I think she truly has an iron willpower in that she will do what c is best for their kids. Ben is lucky that her nature is problem-solving, controlling, but emotionally tuned in and smart. She is far better at this shift then he is.
        I think there will be a Jen resurgence post-Affleck. She is doing an action movie, looks great, and will prob have a real date/fling/whatever this year. Good for her!

      • brenda says:

        The nanny was 2015. The Shookus affair was 2014. The tattoo was who even knows when. Jen didn’t file until 2017. Let’s be real here, none of those things was the reason and she’d still be trying to work it out with him and doing fake happy family pap strolls if he didn’t have a public girlfriend. Just saying.

      • kayla says:

        @Tulip You really think she’s been gentle on him because of the kids? lol She still carries a blazing torch for him and apparently always will. The Shookus affair didn’t extinguish it, nor did the nanny, or the drinking around the kids or the drugs or the many stays in rehab, or the public lies and humiliations. HE ditched HER for Shookus, or she’d still be hanging on. As someone else said, she doesn’t love herself. It’s not all for the kids, come on.

      • Tulip Garden says:

        @Kayla
        I don’t know Garner personally so I’m basing my “for the kids” conclusion based on the things I do know about her. I know that she is a hands on, involved parent because the sheer time she spends with her kids going to school runs, church and athletic activities, and, I think, cutting back on her career to be present. I know she has help but, still, she appears to be a hands on Mom. I know her parents are sill wed and she had often spoken of an idyllic childhood. I think she is trying to re create that for her kids as much as possible, and maybe even more so, because her marriage has been failing for years.

        I do think that she was in love with Ben, and their life together, to the extent that she compromised her own sense of self for too long in order to make that relationship work.. I do think that she wanted to save the marriage for her children, herself, and Affleck. Maybe, it did take a public slap in the face for her to throw in the towel. All of that said, I think Garner will care far better post- break up then Affleck. He is self destructive, she isn’t. I think she is savvy, controlled. Organized, smart with a supportive family including Ben’s mom.
        Look plenty of people quit too easily nowadays on relationships , especially involving kids, so it is rare to really stick it out. Jen didn’t gain anything by doing so except knowing that she tried and that is something.
        Also, I think that she is probably experiencing a degree of relief, self satisfaction , and well-earned time too re-define herself however she wants. I don’t think that she is going to be mooning over Ben. I mean, through his own actions and deeds he had made himself anywhere from superfluous to detrimental tho her personal life and happiness. I don’t think she conflates that with letting him off the hook as a parent though and she shouldn’t! While she doesn’t need him, she knows these kids do and they deserve that opportunity with their Dad. Ben and Shookus can work around his kids next interests for a bit. If they stay together then will be the time to involve Shookus in the kids lives.

      • Veronica says:

        Regardless of how stupid she may or may not be where her tastes in men are concerned, stating outright that you regret a marriage altogether isn’t really an option when you have three children with them – not to mention A LOT of her industry image and financials are tied up with Ben. She has plenty of motivation for playing the part of the amicable, well-adjusted ex-wife who regrets the tragedy of a failed marriage.

      • ORIGINAL T.C. says:

        @Tulip Garden

        Thing is what Garner says about all her decisions being “for the kids” or wanting to have a traditional ideal childhood for her kids is in complete opposite to her actual behavior. Behavior is what is real.

        She decided to date a guy after he raw-dogged a stripper before his wedding AND have unprotected sex with him. Sorry but that’s not a woman looking for a traditional marriage, that’s a woman in lust with a guy wanting him anyway she can.

        Then after marrying him, you find out his is a compulsive gambling, an addict and a serial adulterer so you are like “heck yeah, I want more of his babies, he is totally the role model I want for my children!”. That’s plain selfishness and unfair to those children. What if he gets an STD that you get and pass on to your fetuses while pregnant? Why not give the kids a chance at growing up with a step-Dad who acts as an actual Dad and models decent male behavior? They are growing up with a man showing no respect for their mother or his bad behavior. It’s twisted for her to keep pushing her involvement with Affleck as for the benefit of her children because most pediatric psychological studies show her behavior as actually harmful.

      • mela says:

        thats interesting. I think she thought he would become the person she imagined he could be.

        It’s one thing to have their first child, but to recognize his issues and continue to have 2 more babies with him is what I find the most fascinating about her. By the time she had her other kids, she would have been well aware of the person he was. Maybe he wanted more children?

        Pregnancy or pregnancy scares has a way of erasing any delusions or illusion about your partner or least, it did with me. It’s a moment of brutal honesty with yourself…Bringing a child into the relationship makes things so real….. Suddenly life isn’t about your little fantasy of a relationship with this drug addict or continuing to pretend your marriage isn’t a total sham,…pregnancy makes you snap out of any delusions as least for me..You realize you may be on your own with his child at some point, how reliable IS HE? and do you really want this loser to be a father to your children? She isn’t an idiot, she had to have faced internally a lot of uncomfortable truths that she swept under the rug when she got pregnant each time. How she had those thoughts and still went through with 2 more kids is totally nuts to me..

        It’s hard to explain.

        how she deluded herself into bringing more children into an already bad situation with him is beyond me…it’s clear she is capable of pathological levels of denial and desperation

    • JoJo says:

      @mela – There’s also the “I’m special” aspect, and that’s a key trait with co-dependents, which I think Jen is – or at least was, for 12+ years.

      It’s the whole, “Only I truly know him, only the two of us share something special, he comes to me when he needs help, only I know how to help fix things, only I can help him get through this, no one else ….”, etc.

      While this sounds like a terrible burden, it’s probably attractive in a dysfunctional way, particularly when the other person (like Affleck) isn’t present most of the time. I’d venture to guess constantly “fixing/helping/covering up” was probably one of the only ways she was able to get his attention/affection for any prolonged period of time.

      • mela says:

        In all honesty, maybe she didn’t know what a prolific cheater he was. But I find it hard to believe a woman doesn’t know the man she is living with is sleeping with so many other women through out the marriage…Maybe he was faithful the first few years but I highly doubt it…

  14. smee says:

    If a 12 year old could get a tattoo, that’s what it would be.

  15. susiecue says:

    I’m more into the pic of Garrett Hedlund and Charlie Hunnam getting handsy in the water

  16. Iknowwhatboyslike says:

    Who told Ben that the outfit he has own was “cool”? He looks like someone’s middle-aged father who’s trying way too hard. Look at his face!

    • Erinn says:

      He IS someone’s middle aged father, though. I think about 90% of team merchandise is pretty tacky, so it’s not all that surprising that it sticks out. Other than the jacket, I really don’t think he looks that bad.

  17. Cee says:

    Oh God, not this movie again. It will be a flusterf*ck.

    • Mia4s says:

      I know right?? I got interested back when Kathryn Bigalow was going to direct and it was a theatrical movie…9000 years ago, and then again when they pulled the plug on the Tom Hardy version just before filming. I love this kind of behind the scenes work/business stuff and this one has been hilariously messy and complicated. I think literally everyone has been mentioned as a potential star…hell I think I was mentioned as a potential star. Well at least it will be a Netflix release so if it sucks I can watch without paying for it.

  18. Eleonor says:

    Good God it’ s a seriuslt awful tattoo.

  19. Beth says:

    It’s a hideous tattoo, I wouldn’t want to admit it was real either.This isn’t the first or worst thing he’s lied about, but he must’ve forgotten that this tattoo would be hard to hide

  20. Tiny Martian says:

    So I guess he thinks he’d be in House Gryffindor? A snake would have been more appropriate.

  21. magnoliarose says:

    I laughed so hard I gave myself a headache.
    What a stupid lie. It isn’t like it wouldn’t be caught out since tattoos are PERMANENT FOR LIFE!
    This guy and his fakakta stories are too much.
    Only BA would get a horrid tattoo so large it would take a back transplant to get rid of it.

    • Who ARE These People? says:

      A back transplant! LOL. OWWWWWWWWW

    • littlemissnaughty says:

      He’s so obviously an alcoholic. I laughed as well but I shouldn’t have. Addicts are the worst people to talk to when they deny something because more often than not IT’S SO OBVIOUS! “Dad, you JUST ate my lunch.” – “No I didn’t.” – “You’re sitting in front of the plate.” – “That wasn’t your lunch.” – “You asked if you could, I said no, and then YOU STILL ATE IT!” – “No, I didn’t.”

      I have no clue how Garner came out of there sane.

      • minx says:

        Well, that’s just what I was going to say. He’s an alcoholic so trying to apply logic doesn’t work.
        I’m sure most of us have known or known of alcoholics, this is their behavior.
        I would like to see him go into long, long rehab and therapy. Really step away from the business for a long time. He has to have tons of money. Stop going for the blockbuster movies, just get better and do things he wants to do. His only goal has to be sobriety. Stay away from Garner and maybe even the kids for awhile. I think if he keeps on going like this he’s dead in the not too distant future. But it’s up to him.

      • magnoliarose says:

        I agree with both.
        His only focus should be getting into and maintaining a long recovery. He will be welcomed back because he does have real talent and something to offer. He is smart and insightful except when it comes to himself.

        My time with an alcoholic and a beginning drug addict was an eye-opening experience. He lied about a lot of things. Because I traveled a lot there were things he could hide, and I remember once going out with my friends to hang out to hear live music, and the bartender told me my drunk boyfriend had been there earlier in the week. I was confused and asked him because he told me something else. He isn’t the kind of person anyone would mix up with someone else.
        I didn’t pursue it, but it stayed in my mind.
        I could have easily found out the truth yet he lied for no reason.

        Just like BA. What was the point?

  22. kayla says:

    Who is surprised? He pressured a black man (who is descended from slaves) into covering up his own slave-owning ancestors. His entire public persona is a lie. Why he thought he could reasonably get away with this particular lie is baffling. I pity his kids for having him as a dad. WTF was Garner thinking procreating with this person not once but three times?

    • Krill says:

      He is such an insecure idiot. So he went and got that monstrosity and then when he read how much everyone hated it, decided to lie about it. Not at the same level as using clout to hide slave owning ancestors but pretty much the same petty insecurities at play.

    • Aren says:

      That’s the only thing that really irks me about him.
      The tattoo is just ugly, but it’s his body and he’s not harming anyone. If he lied to the public, again, it’s a private issue and I don’t think anybody should care if it’s real or not.
      But the ancestry thing was too much.

      • magnoliarose says:

        I still don’t understand that one.
        A lot of people have found out things on that show they don’t like. But they take it in stride or make a joke.
        For some reason, this one was more revealing about him than most anything else.

  23. Carolnr says:

    This was an interview a while back where Ben admitted making some bad decisions. Believe it or not, he brought up his tattoos! ( I don’t remember where I saw that interview….it was years ago) . Because of that, it really surprised me that he would get another one let along one that obnoxious! Less is more, Ben!!!
    If you are going to lie about a tattoo,( which is larger than life), what else have you lied about? My dad used to say “You can catch a thief but you can’t catch a liar!!”
    Ben ,people will respect you more if you are just honest!

  24. mannori says:

    for a guy with longtime and unresolved addiction issues saying that “tattoos get sort of addictive after a while” pretty much says it all. In that context of course he would want the biggest, grossest most hideous tattoo he can get: he “binged” by getting that awful thing on his back. He’s an addict with everything he does: women, gambling, alcohol, drugs, food….all is consumed brutally and without restrain.

  25. Dissa says:

    As long as he doesn’t quit quitting.

  26. Neelyo says:

    He’s been lying about his hair for years.

  27. mannori says:

    BTW no, I don’t think he’s getting in shape and he’s not making even an effort to. The only effort he’s done is to try to fool people into thinking that he is in better shape by sucking his beer gut in for those photos and apparently succeeded at least here at Celebitchy. If you look at the whole set of photos at popsugar as soon as he gets a towel he covers his gut and lets it be in its natural bloated state so much that he looks pregnant, b*tch t*ts in full display to mach too. Not to mention his Hank Hill disgusting nonexistent *ss.

    • Neelyo says:

      He didn’t fool me. You can practically see the outline of the Under Armour he wears on his pap strolls.

      • magnoliarose says:

        He looked like he was wearing a Rick Perry man girdle. I wasn’t fooled either.

  28. Gretchen says:

    I have no issue with tattoos and have quite a few myself, but I just don’t get why anyone with the money to hire the best tattoo artists in the world would get such a hideous looking piece. That would require days of work too, so stumbling drunk into a shady parlour doesn’t work as an excuse.

    • BostonStrong says:

      My first thought was “How the F drunk was he, when he got this monstrosity” But, I agree, this tattoo would have taken a few days. I think it had to be a week long binge tattoo. That’s the only explanation for it! Horrendous!

      • KBB says:

        I think when it was first photographed it was just black lines and no coloring. You’d think he’d see the lines and realize it was a mistake, rather than doubling down and coloring it in.

    • Erinn says:

      THIS.

      The kind of money that celebrities have – not a single one of them should have anything average or below quality wise assuming it was done once they got big. I saved up for mine – I researched artists, and I’m living in Nova Scotia, and not in the metro area. I drove two and a half hours to get my largest one done, and it’s still not “THE BEST” but it’s well done. My husband drove just over 3 to get one done last spring – and it’s seriously amazing. It’s the majority of his inner bicep, beautiful, crisp color, and it took about 3 hours. The artist he went with had to start charging by the piece instead of the hours because he was ripping himself off -he’s fast, and incredibly detailed/disciplined. And It wasn’t cheap – but it SHOULDN’T be when it’s something of a decent size/intricacy. If you’re just getting some tiny initials or something I can see not spending a fortune. But if you’re doing anything beyond that you really need to invest in your work.

      Ben’s piece would have taken forever to just lay down the lines. And there’s a LOT of colors in it, and it’s ginormous. I can’t even imagine what he was thinking. It’s by no means the worst I’ve seen, but it’s not at all the level of quality it should be for his fame level.

  29. Sayrah says:

    Yuck. He is a gaslighting douche. He had to have done it to Jennifer for years and even does it to the public about that hideous tattoo. He really is awful. I hope he’s a good father because what other redeeming quality does he have?

  30. WMGDtoo says:

    I don’t like the tat.. but it’s his. and unless his shirt is off you won’t see it. And yes way too much color. Another thing I notice is Ben doesn’t have the Moobs I usually see him with. And he has no butt. I liked him physically so much better when he was thinner. Ben is not the guy that carries that kind of weight. He looks better leaner.

  31. browniecakes says:

    Allot of hot guys playing in the ocean, I’m there for that.

  32. Carolnr says:

    Ben has issues resisting a temptation, a urge, or an impulse. I think he suffers from an impulse control disorder as well as alcoholism. My niece is very impulsive like that and she has ADHD. She also lies. She does things on an impulse never thinking things through! When she was 18, she just decided to drive to NYC (& lied where she went )because she wanted to go shopping. She had no money for gas for her car but the thought did not even cross her mind.

  33. Insomniac says:

    Bleh. I’m not anti-tattoo at all and would probably have a lot if I could afford them, but that backpiece is really ugly. And why on earth would he lie about it? I guess that’s just what he does.

  34. minx says:

    I predict a tragic end for him, that he dies before his time. He just has too many addiction issues.

    • magnoliarose says:

      Sadly I do too.
      He has changed dramatically over the years. He looks like his liver is overloaded. I would not have predicted him to become this mess he is now. Not this bad at least.

  35. Sarah says:

    Seriously- if that’s what passes for getting into shape, I’m totallllyyyy buff. 🙄
    Any female actor would be told she was a fat blimp and would never get cast, aside from the “funny fat friend” role…

    • magnoliarose says:

      Absolutely. She would be body shamed with abandon. This is what has to end. Body equality. I don’t think everyone should look the same. I think some people are fluffier than others but because our culture makes it a crime against women it seems egregious that it is ok for a man.
      I am sick of double standards.

  36. brenda says:

    It’s less the tattoo itself and more that he publicly lied about it. What a fool. That tat would take multiple sessions to complete, and he would also need someone to help him care for it when it was fresh. Realistically he can’t even really remove it, a lot of the colors in it (blue, green) don’t really come out.

  37. Mela says:

    My gut says him and shookus broke up…they havent been seen since valentines day.

    And he has been seen with jen a couple times this week..jen dont do it. He doesnt love you.

    Jen is like a mother to him. He always goes home to her when he his life blows up and needs a place to go

    • tara says:

      He was in NYC with her like two weeks ago. Pics on JustJared.

      • JoJo says:

        There’s all this chatter that there were photos of him moving out of his rental property in LA and was looking at other rentals with Violet over the weekend, although I haven’t seen the pictures. Not sure where they are … social maybe?

        And some other people claiming that he’s staying with Jen/the kids again (maybe temporarily?) and was driving her Lexus on Saturday when out with Violet.

        If true, she’s definitely a fool. How confusing for the kids. This is what hotels are for.

      • Mela says:

        She is a fool and so is Lindsay Shookus if she puts up with him.

        Again, he is never go to grow up and be a father who can stand on his own two feet if jen always props him up. Shookus should dump him. Im sure she hates that hes driving jens car and staying at her place.

      • tara says:

        If it’s true that he’s staying with Jen and the kids, then Jen is a FOOL and a doormat and this proves that she always will be. With their money, there is no reason for that. As for Shookus, who knows. I can’t figure out who is the bigger chump here: Jen, Shookus, or Ben. I think it’s Jen because she knows better, or should. ETA: I would think that x17 would be screaming it from the hilltops if Ben had actually moved back in. You know those stans are praying for this nightly.

      • Jenfan says:

        I don’t think he has “moved in” with Jen. There is someone on another web site that seems to have inside scoop (to the point I wonder if the person works for them in some capacity), all the stuff he posts eventually comes out true. Just tidbits of information like Ben and Jen had taken Sam away to a theme park for his birthday. And a few days later there were pics of them at legoland. So this same commentator posted the info here that Ben was staying at Jen’s house since he returned from HI and the other tid bits. My guess -maybe he moved most of his stuff to NYC. Now he will most likely be filming in HI for an extended period – and maybe he stays at the guest house so he can spend max time with the kids when he is here every couple of weeks. I really think Jen has moved on.

      • mela says:

        what website?! would love to see his comments

    • JoJo says:

      It’s the DM, and there’s a commenter (goes by ‘Stephan’, I believe), who makes appearances saying he lives in their neighborhood and professes to know crap about their lives. If true, I find it weird – and suspect – that this person chooses to rush to the DM to gush about all of it, but such is the world today I suppose.

      • Jenfan says:

        It is weird. But he does seem to know stuff. When Ben seemed awol last week he was posting that he was in Hawaii working on triple frontier and going to rehab. So he / she seems to know something

      • magnoliarose says:

        I do it about some people, but I try to hold back for several reasons. If it is someone I absolutely despise I have to be careful not to just go full rant about them.
        It would be more than slightly weird for someone just to pretend to know these people. They would have to be mentally unstable and live in fantasy land. What would be the reward? I don’t get it. I can see someone embellishing on a dating site because they want a date but celebrity gossip? Even stans don’t do that. I don’t think.

        This person probably has been dying to tell since these two are constantly papped, and playing is he or isn’t he for years on end.

      • Amster says:

        @Jojo

        What is It’s the DM? I don’t know of the website I are referring to about the Steven who talks about B& J’s lives…

        Enquiring minds…

  38. Penfold says:

    That tattoo is hard to understand at first- it looks like a mess of color. It’s too large to see clearly at first glance. If he had to get this, a slightly smaller one probably would’ve been better looking.

  39. Carolkoi says:

    Tattoo aside, it is nice to see him with his children! He has many faults but he did make beautiful children!!!!

  40. Veronica says:

    That tattoo is a great study in character, isn’t it? The tattoo itself isn’t particularly poorly done. It’s who wears it that’s making it look ridiculous. As if a wealthy white male celebrity who self-destructed via consistent addiction to gambling, alcohol, and adultery is somebody who ever needed to rise from the ashes.

    • KBB says:

      I have to disagree. I think that tattoo would look dumb on anyone.

      • magnoliarose says:

        It is bad. Very bad and cheap looking. Way too large and the composition is shoddy. The colors are horrible.
        There are high quality artists available but I do wonder if he was on a bender when he did it.

  41. lobbit says:

    Ridiculous. Why lie about such a thing? He’s so weird.

    • Ally says:

      That’s Ben Affleck’s tragedy: he smart enough to be self-aware about his life decisions but he just doesn’t have the mettle to resist his dumb urges. So he lies.

      • Carolkoi says:

        I don’t believe Ben Affleck is dumb. He speaks a 2nd language….Spanish. Apparently he spent part of his childhood living in Mexico!
        However, he makes bad decisions on impulse & he probably later regrets so he lies, which ends up being another bad decision!

      • minx says:

        I think he’s intelligent too. He’s an alcoholic, though, so he lies, misbehaves and does dumb things. Until he gets a handle on that his life is going to be a mess.

  42. Ally says:

    I love to contrast Matt Damon’s patronizing quote re: Ben Affleck mansplaining Jennifer Garner’s appeal to “moms in the midwest”, when Ben Affleck, despite all his urbane life experience and fame, still acts like the most sadsack dad from the midwest: the beard, the girth, the gambling, the young/blonde mistresses, the tragic tattoo…

  43. No Doubtful says:

    I’m surprised that he actually looks good shirtless considering how he’s let himself go in the past year or two. It was obvious in 2015 that the back tattoo was real…and ugly. I hope this guy gets his crap together, but he seems destined to self sabotage.

  44. Avery says:

    He is so gross.

  45. M.A.F. says:

    I don’t get the tattoo maybe because there hasn’t been clear close ups. I see the Phoenix, the yellow/blue bird but what is the red stuff at the bottom? The ashes? And what is that odd stand alone piece of yellow/blue (right below the wing on his left side)?

    • mela says:

      i thought it was some sort of FUG Dragon Creature

      While I think Jen is a doormat, I bet she is getting quit the satisfaction from the public ridicule of his horrible tattoo hehe

    • Ally says:

      I love Jennifer Lopez’s quote on this: “It’s awful! What are you doing? His tattoos always have too many colors, they shouldn’t be so colorful. They should be cooler.” LOL.

  46. SJhere says:

    That is an ugly tattoo. It fits old Ben. He’s an ugly person to be involved with, I think.
    Very, very self-centered. Life is all about me, me, me.
    Which would be fine if he had never married or had children.
    Minimum amount of talent on his best day.
    BA as Batman is not fit to hold Christian Bales coat!

    We need a new crop of actors to hit their stride and send BA on his way.

    • magnoliarose says:

      I second the need for new talent. What they have been pushing lately has been uninspired.

  47. Blackbetty says:

    Why lie about it? It’s a huge tattoo!

  48. CrazyCatLady says:

    Dang. Hard to believe he did THAT permanently and on purpose. Wow.

    He must have been really inebriated on that one.

    Ok I seriously once was pulling for them as a couple. She was once so I love with him….3 kids…I wanted to see him wake up and get his act together ..blah blah.

    I also once wanted to be Miss America.

    Same thing, Zero chance of either ever happening. 👀