Ben Affleck has been involved in controversial matters during his career. In the wake of transformative movements such as Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and Times Up, which have spotlighted issues of racial and gender disparity and bias, certain interviews are reemerging and coming under scrutiny for their problematic content.
During his promotional activities for the movie Jersey Girl, Ben Affleck engaged in a conversation with Anne-Marie Losique, a French-Canadian journalist. Notably, throughout the interview, she remained seated on his lap. Enveloping the reporter’s waist with his arms, the actor recognized for his portrayal of “Batman” playfully encouraged Losique to remove her shirt during the interaction. He also engaged in jesting about French accents and made remarks about her “firm br*sts“ via Insider.
It has been noted that amidst the #MeToo movement in 2017, as Hilarie Burton came forward alleging that Affleck had groped her during a 2003 appearance on MTV’s TRL, the Box Office interview with Losique gained traction across the internet. The video’s circulation prompted widespread scrutiny of Affleck’s interactions with women and his conduct in general.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Losique addressed the video, contending that it had been misconstrued and taken out of context. She clarified that she had engaged in “many interviews like that” with Affleck.
“The day I did that particular interview, it was a bit usual, I would say, in the sense that we would have this game going on and it was strictly for the cameras, while the cameras were on,” she said, adding their interviews “got very high ratings.”
Losique provided insight by sharing that the clips featuring Affleck had garnered significant attention in Quebec, noting that they were widely appreciated. Yet, considering the accusations made by Burton against the actor, Losique acknowledged that the dynamics surrounding the situation had undergone a shift.
(H/t Fandom Wire)
