Reports Keep Talking About Matt Damon's Advice To Ben Affleck, But It's His Question About JLo That's Sticking Out More

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for CBS Sunday Morning interview in 2023 for Air
(Image credit: CBS)

The tumultuous relationship between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez continues to create headlines as fans continue to wonder just what is going on. While nothing official has been announced, evidence continues to mount that Affleck and Lopez are headed toward splitting up, and Affleck’s friends, including Matt Damon, are supporting him in what is clearly a difficult, and potentially dangerous, time.

Ben Affleck has a well-documented history of alcohol abuse and reports claim that Matt Damon has been supporting his friend, attempting to make sure he doesn’t backslide. Damon has reportedly told Affleck to “focus on the work” as a way to get through this difficult time, the Daily Mail also reports that Damon asked his friend “What has she ever done for your career?”

While Lopez Has Been The Star, Affleck’s Career Has Benefitted Too 

It’s an odd comment, if it is at all true that Matt Damon said it, (we shouldn't assume an unnamed source is accurate) because it’s difficult to argue that Jennifer Lopez hasn’t done things for Ben Affleck’s career. There’s no argument that Lopez has been the bigger star in the relationship, that’s always been the case, so the support hasn’t necessarily been fair, but it’s been there.

Jennifer Lopez was there on the red carpet when Affleck’s movie Air premiered. She appeared in a series of Dunkin Donuts commercials that absolutely got more attention for Affleck because she was in them. It’s not the same as sitting down to do interviews for your wife’s multi-discipline autobiographical musical film project, interviews Affleck clearly didn’t really want to do, but it’s not nothing. 

Certainly, Affleck’s career hasn’t been the focus, possibly for either of them, there’s little argument there. Maybe Matt Damon simply means that he doesn’t think she’s done enough for his friend. The goal is to get Affleck focusing on his own career now because that’s what Damon believes will keep his friend focused.

Matt Damon Reportedly Wants Affleck To “Focus On The Work” 

If Matt Damon really questioned Lopez’s support of Affleck’s career it may have simply been because that’s the kind of thing you might say to help your friend in a situation like this, regardless of how true the statement might be. Damon is focused on Affleck’s sobriety.

While Ben Affleck has been sober for a few years, none of us know how solid that round is right now, and the ending of a relationship, and of a marriage, which is what we appear to be seeing, is the sort of thing that drives people that have never had substance abuse issues toward such things, nevermind those with previous problems.

We really don’t know where all this is going, but everybody involved certainly hopes Ben Affleck stays sober. If he needs to focus on work to do that, then we certainly hope he does so. 

Dirk Libbey
Content Producer/Theme Park Beat

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.