--- title: Jennifer Garner Discusses Ben Affleck Divorce description: This is the first time Jennifer Garner is speaking out about her divorce. canonical: https://time.com/4239556/jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-divorce/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-02-26T21:22:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:56:09.611Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Jennifer Garner Breaks Silence About Ben Affleck Divorce og:description: It's the first time she has spoken publicly about it og:url: https://time.com/4239556/jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-divorce/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac663afa3a32efc2/69887f61428a9ec62dcd1901/jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-divorce.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-divorce og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Jennifer Garner Breaks Silence About Ben Affleck Divorce twitter:description: It's the first time she has spoken publicly about it twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac663afa3a32efc2/69887f61428a9ec62dcd1901/jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-divorce.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Jennifer Garner Breaks Silence About Ben Affleck Divorce > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Ben Affleck Reveals His Secrets To Becoming Batman [Watch (HLS stream): Ben Affleck Reveals His Secrets To Becoming Batman](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/wj67RdFr.m3u8) (1:05)  _Published 2015-07-12. At Comic-Con's Warner Bros. panel, Ben Affleck talked about his new role and revealed that a former Batman actor gave him some helpful advice._ by [Jodi Guglielmi / People](https://time.com/author/people/) ## Jodi Guglielmi / People Contributor Feb 26, 2016 9:22 PM UTC  Jennifer Garner speaks onstage at the 3rd Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala on November 17, 2015 in New York City. Jennifer Garner speaks onstage at the 3rd Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala on November 17, 2015 in New York City. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images by [Jodi Guglielmi / People](https://time.com/author/people/) ## Jodi Guglielmi / People Contributor Feb 26, 2016 9:22 PM UTC [Jennifer Garner](http://www.people.com/people/jennifer%5Fgarner) is speaking out for the first time about her public [divorce](http://www.people.com/article/jennifer-garner-s-new-life-after-ben-affleck-split) from[Ben Affleck](http://www.people.com/people/ben%5Faffleck). “It was a real marriage,” she told [_Vanity Fair_](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/jennifer-garner-talks-kids-career-ben-affleck?mbid=social%5Ffacebook) in its latest cover story. “It wasn’t for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work.” Shortly after announcing their split in June, reports began to surface that Affleck [had an affair](http://www.people.com/article/christine-ouzounian-ben-affleck-nanny-lunch-friends-beverly-hills) with their nanny – claims he has [adamantly denied](http://www.people.com/article/ben-affleck-denies-affair-nanny-christine-ouzounian). Garner opened up about the scandal, saying it had nothing to do with their decision to split. “We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny,” she said. “She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes.” The actress admits that one of the hardest parts of the ordeal was having to explain it to their three children. “It’s not great for your kids for \[a nanny\] to disappear from their lives,” she said. “I have had to have conversations about the meaning of ‘scandal.’ ” While it’s been impossible for Garner to shield her family completely from the media coverage, she admits she’s done her best to tune it out. “I turned on CNN one day,” she says, “and there we were. I just won’t do it anymore. I took a silent oath with myself last summer to really stay offline. I am totally clueless about all of it.” But she’s adamant that ignoring the outside attention doesn’t mean she’s not affected by it. “Ben says, ‘Oh, you just don’t care,’ and I say, ‘No, it’s the opposite.’ It hurts me so much, and I care so much,” she says. “I cannot be driven by the optics of this. I cannot let anger or hurt be my engine. I need to move with the big picture always on my mind, and the kids first and foremost.” Despite the turmoil, Garner says she still has feelings for the father of her children and has no regrets about marrying Affleck. “I didn’t marry the big fat movie star; I married him,” she explains. “And I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him, and I would again. You can’t have these three babies and so much of what we had. He’s the love of my life. “What am I going to do about that? He’s the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He’s just a complicated guy. I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow.” While those feelings continue to linger, Garner does seem to be gaining a sense of humor about the situation. Asked about her ex-husband’s [large phoenix back tattoo](http://www.people.com/article/ben-affleck-bloody-bandaged-on-set-live-by-night-photo), she joked, “You know what we would say in my hometown about that? ‘Bless his heart.’ A phoenix rising from the ashes. Am I the ashes in this scenario?” she asks. “I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.” _This_ [_article_](http://www.people.com/article/jennifer-garner-ben-affleck-divorce-nanny-scandal) _originally appeared on People.com_ ## Transcript Warner brothers panel at Comic Con was met with huge anticipation largely because the Batman verse Superman cast would be appearing. 20 years in Gotham how many good guys are left. How many stay that way. Most surprising about the panel was Ben Affleck addressing how he avoided psyching himself out stepping into the franchise characters cape and cal. I think if I If I thought too hard about the actors who played this part before, I couldn't have taken the job. But Affleck joked he was reassured when director Zach Snyder said Affleck was perfect for the role, because Batman was, quote, " At the end of his rope; he's older, he's a burnout ." At the end of it, I was like even sort of astonished to look at it and go, that's exactly what you pitched me. Affleck also told the audience about his run- in at a Costume shop with former Batman actor Christian Bale. Affleck used the moment to ask Bale for a few pointers about playing the caped crusader. Bale's advice? Make sure you have a way to go to the bathroom while wearing the suit. Helpful. 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