Ben Affleck is starting a new phase in his life after his split from Jennifer Lopez, focusing on staying sober. Following their very public breakup earlier this year, sources say that Affleck, 52, is carefully getting back into dating but has one important rule: he will only date someone who is sober or in recovery.
“Ben hasn’t given up on love and feels ready to move on and start dating again,” a source shared with DailyMail.com. Still, his path to recovery remains crucial. “The last two years have been hard for Ben, and as he heals, it’s clear that his recovery comes first.”
Affleck’s struggles with addiction are well-known. He quit drinking in 1997 but faced challenges over the years, including rehab visits in 2001, 2017, and 2018— the last one involved an intervention by his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
“My actions are my own responsibility…I think I was pretty clear about that.” Affleck told The New York Times back in 2020. His dedication to sobriety has stayed strong; now he wants future relationships with someone who shares similar values about being sober.
After moving out of the $68 million home he had with Lopez into a bachelor pad in Brentwood California friends worried that the stress of the breakup might affect his hard-earned sobriety.
However according to Daily Mail Lopez contacted Garner for help since she could truly understand what he was going through. Affleck felt upset that people were concerned about him relapsing but reassured them by saying “Like every alc0h0lic Ben just wakes up each day aiming to stay sober.”
Affleck’s journey isn’t just about personal strength; it’s also about setting limits for both mental and physical health.
“What I did was drink a bottle of scotch then fall asleep on the couch which turned out not to be helpful.” He confessed to The Hollywood Reporter.
He believes avoiding alcohol helps ensure that family and friends won’t have to see him go through those tough times again.
Since breaking up Affleck briefly dated Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy from the famous Kennedy family but insiders say this relationship was short-lived and happened before reuniting with Lopez. “They met because Ben is from Boston where everyone knows the Kennedy family,” one source explained to DailyMail.com.
As Affleck finds independence again he’s taking relationships slowly putting his health first above everything else. He understands how vital self-care is during recovery making it clear any future partner must share his commitment towards sobriety—a rule he’s not willing to bend at all!
