Ben Affleck is opening about how he felt about the "Sad Affleck" meme, which went viral while he was promoting The Flash, which is set to hit theaters later this year.
During a press junket interview for Batman v Superman in 2016, Affleck was caught looking unbearably grim while co-star Henry Cavill answered a question about the film's mixed reviews. The moment became a viral meme overnight and inspired countless "Sad Affleck" parodies. Six years later, and netizens still haven't forgotten about the incident and his somber appearance.
In a new interview for the Los Angeles Times, Affleck reflected on the infamous "Sad Affleck" meme and how it impacted his personal life. The 49-year-old actor itted that while he found the meme to be hilarious, he's more concerned about his kids seeing it on the internet. The Justice League star has three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner: Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9. That said, Affleck revealed that he's now reached a point in his career when he's "stopped caring" about what critics and bashers say about him. Read his comments below:
I got to a place where [the public perception] was so different from who I am that I just stopped reading and stopped caring. But then, as my kids got older and started seeing the internet themselves, that’s the difficult part. Even the “Sad Affleck” meme — that was funny to me. I mean, there’s nobody who hasn’t felt that way at a junket. But then my kids see it and I think, “Oh, are they going to think their dad is fundamentally sad or they have to worry about me?” That’s really tough.
Affleck's long career in Hollywood is marked with incredible highs but also extreme lows. While the Oscar winner has made many critically acclaimed blockbusters such as 2012's Argo, he also has several films that failed to impres audiences, like The Last Duel. These include the widely panned Gigli as well.
On top of his rollercoaster career, Affleck's personal life has also been subject to the media's scrutiny. His divorce, battle with alcoholism, and dating status have been constantly followed by the press and the public. Despite the memes and spoofs made to make fun of Affleck, the beleaguered star has undoubtedly delivered some of the most memorable dramatic performances in the industry. Hopefully, his exit from the DCEU as Batman with The Flash will usher him into a new chapter in his career and prove why he's still one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood today.
Source: Los Angeles Times
