Ben Affleck Calls Jennifer Garner Divorce 'The Biggest Regret Of My Life'

Ben Affleck is opening up about his “biggest regret.” AKA his divorce from Jennifer Garner.

While speaking with The New York Times ahead of the upcoming release of his new flick The Way Back, the 47-year-old shared about how his failing marriage with the actress led him to an alcohol abuse relapse, and how he is still battling his “compulsive behavior” today.

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He shared with the outlet:

“I drank relatively normally for a long time. What happened was that I started drinking more and more when my marriage was falling apart. This was 2015, 2016. My drinking, of course, created more marital problems.”

You may recall the heartbreaks which ensued when Bennifer 2.0 initially announced their separation in June 2015, and finally settled their divorce in October 2018. The pair first began dating in 2004, before marrying the following year and welcoming three children together, Violet, 14; Seraphina, 11; and Samuel, 7.

Ben continued, admitting:

“The biggest regret of my life is this divorce.”

Damn.

While we don’t know all the ins and outs of their relationship, from the outside it seems they are able to co-parent their three kids together now. The 13 Going On 30 star also played a part in helping Affleck with getting his sobriety in check and going to rehab in the past. We hope they are able to continue working together in the future for the sake of their kiddos!

However, we have also seen Ben move on pretty quickly — and then move on again and again. So despite his regret, it seems pretty clear romantic reconciliation is not on the table.

The Justice League star got very serious and introspective with the Times, reflecting:

“Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame. It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.”

Though he acknowledges the shame he has felt, it’s definitely not a place he wants to dwell in:

“It’s not particularly healthy for me to obsess over the failures — the relapses — and beat myself up. I have certainly made mistakes. I have certainly done things that I regret. But you’ve got to pick yourself up, learn from it, learn some more, try to move forward.”

Speaking specifically about the “vicious cycle” of having “compulsive behavior,” Affleck explained:

“People with compulsive behavior, and I am one, have this kind of basic discomfort all the time that they’re trying to make go away. You’re trying to make yourself feel better with eating or drinking or sex or gambling or shopping or whatever. But that ends up making your life worse. Then you do more of it to make that discomfort go away. Then the real pain starts. It becomes a vicious cycle you can’t break. That’s at least what happened to me.”

That’s some pretty sound advice, and definitely applicable to a lot of life situations — even for those of us who aren’t Batmen. Thoughts on everything Ben had to share, Perezcious relationship experts?? We want to know what you think. Sound OFF (below) in the comments and share!!

[Image via Ivan Nikolov/WENN.]