Only the Instagram post of a celeb could address both one’s love life and a charitable cause at the same time.
“HA, you got me,” posted Ben Affleck recently. "I’m dating. But let’s be serious for a moment and talk about something that is actually important...@themidnightmission is an incredible organization that helps those in need with housing, training, development and recovery.” It’s actually a rather impressive feat to pull off.
Ever since Affleck and Jennifer Garner split, after ten years together, the Argo and Batman star has been in more relationships than the media can keep track of.
It’s time to take a look at Affleck’s flings over the years in photos to better gain insight into how he treated his exes.
20 Airport Affection
At first glance, it looks like Ben Affleck and his girlfriend (at the time) Lindsay Shookus are at odds here at JFK airport in New York. In actuality, the two were flirting and making a show of it for the cameras. It looks as if Affleck has a softer side the public doesn’t often see (Daily Mail).
19 Disappointing Gwyneth
In retrospect, actress Gwyneth Paltrow sums up her former romance with Ben Affleck in two words: “A lesson.” In this photo, Paltrow clearly doesn’t look too interested in Affleck, even if he’s trying his darnedest to turn the charm on. “Ben makes life tough for himself,” Paltrow once said, as per a quote by InStyle.
18 Showdown
It doesn’t take a relationship expert to figure out Ben isn’t in the best spot here with ex-wife Jennifer Garner. Looking up at her, not only does he look haggard, but a bit annoyed too. It would be surprising, though, if that were in fact his feelings, considering she supposedly gave him multiple opportunities to turn things around.
17 Appalled
From paparazzi photos alone, it looks as if Garner and Affleck had a tumultuous relationship. There are always rumors circulating about celebs and their private lives, so all the public really has to go off of at the end of the day are sources and the photos themselves. Here, Affleck looks appalled by whatever Garner is saying.
16 In A Car With A Playboy Model
Affleck has a playboy model in the passenger seat of his car and doesn’t shy away from acting personable. He looks fully attentive, is making eye-contact, and has a big smile from ear to ear. Sexton looks pleased herself, showing that Affleck still knows how to make a lady feel special.
15 Ignoring Jennifer Garner
It sure looks like Jennifer Garner adored her former husband. While we don’t doubt Affleck felt the same way about her at one time, this photo appears to tell a different story. Granted, these two are on the red carpet - a setting they’re both well-familiar with - and with cameras constantly snapping photos, it's likely to catch celebs in every kind of mood imaginable.
14 Helping Pick Out Shoes
Affleck may not have the best public image today, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of showing affection for his loved ones. When the Hollywood star took the time to go shoe shopping with his girlfriend, Lindsay Shookus, he not only tagged along, but actually helped narrow down her choices.
13 In The Backseat
Not the most flattering photo of Ben Affleck, but one that sheds light on his relationship with Lindsay Shookus. She’s a producer on the popular and long-running comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live. Lindsay looks a little bit like a deer in the headlights here, while Affleck looks ready to pass out.
12 Going In For A Hug
This photo shows happier times for the former Hollywood power couple. Although Garner and Affleck split, they were able to work through their differences and ultimately come to terms. According to the Daily Mail, they even lived together on their 8,800 square foot property in Los Angeles while they worked out the details of their divorce.
11 Kissing Gwyneth
Affleck was once in a serious relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow years ago. The two look like they’re happy and in love here - which stands in great contrast to what the two look like later on, which we reveal further on. According to PopSugar, this was way back in July 1998.
10 Walking Dogs
As a movie star, it would be just as easy to leave the task of dog walking to someone else. Yet Affleck seems acquainted with the pleasure gained from dog walking, especially when it’s with his girlfriend at the time, Lindsay Shookus. According to PopSugar, the two dogs belong to her.
9 Going To Rehab
It isn’t easy to have one’s private life aired out in the media. That’s what Affleck has had to go through over the last couple of years. According to Page Six, Affleck was on his way to rehab in this pic, which also shows his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, seated in the front behind the steering wheel.
8 Unaware
In many ways, Affleck lost brownie points with the media over leaving his ex-wife, actress Jennifer Garner, high and dry. In retrospect, this photo only adds fuel to the proverbial fire, considering Garner looks enamored with her husband. Meanwhile, Affleck looks uninterested in her doting on him. International Business Times reports that the photo is from February 2013 when they attended the Oscars.
7 On The Verge Of A Fight?
Affleck has had plenty of high profile relationships. Without a doubt, Jennifer Lopez is near the top of the list, with the two having met on the set of the film Gigli. Yet like the film’s ultimate bomb at the box office, the two would later suffer the same outcome in their romance.
6 Picnic
Even though Affleck and Garner went through a divorce, they still made an effort to be on good terms with one another. This photo shows what a civil life post-marriage can look like, which says a lot about Affleck’s character. While the two may not be able to capture any former glory they once had together, at least Affleck looks as if he’s still trying to crack a joke to cheer Garner up.
5 Pulled Into The Garage
After a drive out, Affleck and his former girl, Shauna Sexton, pulled into the garage and went inside. Although the two weren’t arm in arm, Sexton looked as if she was beaming. Even though Affleck and the Playboy model didn’t last together very long, it looks like they had a good time during the fling.
4 Turning His Back On Enza
Before he and Garner hit it off, Affleck dated Enza Sambataro. The two shared their love of the Boston Red Sox by attending a ball game together. It looks as if Affleck is more interested in showing off his shirt to fans and the media than he is bonding with his girlfriend (People.com).
3 Under Umbrellas
Ben and Jen are no more, but there are still pics of the two from better days to remind us all that Ben isn’t such a bad guy. He might have his issues like everyone else, but at least he’s able to take the time away from a busy schedule, pull up some lawn chairs, and lounge in the shade under a pair of umbrellas with his gal.
2 Affleck And Gwyneth Tangled Up
Considering they’re both actors, it was inevitable that Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow would star in a movie together. They were both in Shakespeare in Love and Bounce. While Paltrow looks like she’s having fun here with Affleck acting playful, she also looks as if she’s pulling away from him underneath that smile.
1 Schmoozy
Out of all of Ben Affleck’s relationships, the one that lasted the longest (so far) was the one he had with Jennifer Garner. The two worked together on the superhero flick Daredevil and were inseparable ever since. Even though Affleck looks a little unsteady here, he still managed to make Garner smile as he leaned in.
Sources: International Business Times, Daily Mail, PopSugar, InStyle, PEOPLE.com, Page Six
