Ben Affleck has made a rare and thoughtful comment about pop icon Britney Spears, responding indirectly to her previous claim that the two once shared a romantic moment.
During his appearance on the latest episode of This Past Weekend with Theo Von podcast, Affleck took a reflective tone while discussing the media’s treatment of Britney over the years.
The Argo director, now 52, admitted that while he doesn’t know Britney personally, he has always felt empathy for her. “A long time ago, years and years ago, I really had a lot of empathy for Britney Spears,” said Ben. “She was constantly in the spotlight, surrounded by chaos and judgment.”
Affleck, who has had his own well-documented battles with media attention, explained to podcast host Theo Von that he could relate to some of what Britney endured. “I remember thinking—it’s not like I was close to her or hung out with her—but like everyone else, I saw all the madness,” Ben shared. “It was just nonstop, and people don’t realize how toxic that cycle can be.”
Ben recalled knowing some paparazzi personally and witnessing how they operated. “I saw how they would provoke you just to get a reaction,” he explained. Reflecting on Britney’s notorious 2008 breakdown, Ben Affleck seemed to suggest that the media frenzy played a significant role in her public unraveling.
Commenting on that turbulent period, Ben said, “It was like watching a tiger lash out, but no one sees the people poking at it with sticks. All people see is the reaction, not the provocation behind it.” He described the phenomenon as a form of “cultural cruelty” where the public fails to acknowledge the pressure driving such breakdowns.
Interestingly, Ben’s comments come nearly a year after Britney claimed in a since-deleted Instagram post that she and Ben once made out. She posted an old photo with Ben Affleck and songwriter Diane Warren from 1999, writing, “Cool pic of me and Ben Affleck and Diane Warren years ago!!! Did I fail to mention I made out with Ben that night… I honestly forgot… that’s … !!!”
Ben, however, did not directly address Britney’s claim during the podcast and skillfully avoided engaging with the more sensational aspect of the story. Still, his comments reveal a clear sense of compassion for Britney and the challenges she has faced over the years.