Ben Affleck has spoken up for the first time since his public divorce from Jennifer Lopez.

The actor, who is promoting The Accountant 2, spoke with GQ Magazine for a profile and discussed the separation.

The couple originally dated in 2002, became engaged, and then ended their romance in early 2004.

They reconciled a few years ago, marrying in 2022 and divorcing in 2024.

In the interview, Affleck said that discussing his divorce was ’embarrassing,’ but he also praised his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.

The GQ interviewer first brought up the divorce when he asked about Jennifer Lopez’s documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told.

While the documentary follows Lopez through the development of her new album, one item in particular has gone viral: Affleck’s evidently distressed reaction to their private lives being made public in the film.

The reporter confronts Affleck about this, and he claims he was eager to participate and found her examination ‘interesting.’.

He went on to remark, “As I previously stated, I believe there are many people who have managed stardom more adeptly and adroitly than I have, Jennifer being one of them.

“I tend to be more quiet and secretive than she is. As is common in partnerships, you don’t always have the same attitude regarding these issues.”

He then repeats a phrase from the documentary, stating, “You don’t marry a ship captain and then say, ‘Well, I don’t like going out on the water.'”

Affleck emphasizes, however, that this was not the cause of a major breakdown between the couple.

Affleck and the journalist resumed their talk a few days later, emphasizing that he had ‘a lot of respect’ for Lopez.

He went on to declare, “I have nothing but respect.” I suppose there’s a propensity to look at breakups and try to find fundamental causes or whatever.”

The Good Will Hunting actor described the breakup as ‘quotidian,’ implying that it was not the product of a single factor.

When discussing the split, he stated, “As you get older, this is true for me, and I guess it is true for most people; there is no ‘So-and-so did this’ or ‘This was the major event.’

“It sounds more like a couple’s therapy session, which you would eventually tune out of. For one thing, you start thinking, “Okay, definitely this individual has these troubles. Clearly, they have these concerns.

“I don’t want to share because it’s humiliating. “It feels vulnerable.”

Affleck also addressed his ex-wife and co-parent Jennifer Garner, with whom he has fueled dating rumors in recent weeks.

The actor praised Garner, stating, “I’m really lucky that I have a really good co-parent and partner in Jennifer Garner, the kids’ mom, who’s wonderful and great, and we work together well.”