Ben Affleck Opens Up on Paparazzi Culture, Says He Empathized Deeply with Britney Spears

Affleck reflects on industry pressures, shares memories of early days as an extra with Matt Damon, and recalls the toll paparazzi frenzy took on stars like Spears

Washington DC, May 8:
Hollywood star Ben Affleck recently opened up about the darker side of fame, expressing heartfelt empathy for pop icon Britney Spears over the intense media scrutiny she faced at the height of her career. Speaking on the This Past Weekend with Theo Von podcast, the 52-year-old actor reflected on the toll that constant paparazzi attention can take, especially during moments of personal struggle.

“Years ago, I really felt for Britney Spears,” said Affleck, as reported by People. “She’s not someone I knew personally, but like everyone else, I saw what was happening around her.” Drawing from his own experiences with the paparazzi, Affleck added, “At that time, I understood how difficult it is when you’re followed, harassed, yelled at—just so someone can spin it into a frenzy.”

Affleck acknowledged he couldn’t speak for what Spears, now 43, was dealing with internally, but he recognized the damaging pattern. “It’s the cycle of being hunted to provoke a reaction. That’s real,” he said.

The Good Will Hunting and Argo star has spent decades navigating Hollywood’s highs and lows, and in the same interview, he took a moment to reflect on his humble beginnings. Affleck recalled working as an extra with Matt Damon on the 1989 classic Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner.

Recently, Costner claimed he remembered the two future Oscar-winners from the set. Affleck, with characteristic humility, responded during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!: “Kevin is being kind. We weren’t memorable. It’s sweet of him to say that, but I’m pretty sure he remembers the actors with actual lines.”

Field of Dreams, based on the novel Shoeless Joe, is a beloved sports fantasy film in which Costner plays a farmer who builds a mystical baseball field in his cornfield, drawing the ghosts of baseball greats.

Ben Affleck’s candid reflections—on both his early career and the emotional toll of fame—offer a rare glimpse behind the curtain of stardom, revealing how even the most seasoned stars grapple with fame’s invasive side.