The Unexpected Celebrity Who Drove Ben Affleck To Rehab

Ben Affleck has spoken at length about his ongoing battles with addiction, which has seemingly plagued his entire career. The actor — who gained popularity as the star of the 1993 film "Dazed and Confused" — has maintained his place as one of Hollywood's leading men, despite his personal quarrels.

In 2020, Affleck opened up about his struggle with alcoholism and revealed that his father also battled the same obstacles. "There's a lot of alcoholism and mental illness in my family," Affleck told The New York Times. "The older I've gotten, the more I recognize that my dad did the best he could." Affleck went on to describe his family's addiction issues as a "legacy," and explained it took him years to accept that he was an alcoholic. He also suggested that his drinking and impulsive behavior played a major factor in his divorce from Jennifer Garner.

In the same interview, the "Deep Water" star revealed that Bradley Cooper and Robert Downey Jr. played an integral role in his recovery, by remaining supportive throughout his recent ordeals. However, there was once another celebrity that came to Affleck's aid during a rocky period in the entertainer's life.

Ben Affleck made headlines in 2001 when the actor entered the famed Malibu rehab center, Promises, to address alcohol addiction. "Ben is a self-aware and smart man who has decided that a fuller life awaits him without alcohol," Affleck's spokesman said in a statement, per The New York Post. "He has chosen to seek out professional assistance, and is committed to traveling a healthier road with the support of his family, friends and fans." The move came after several sources claimed the "Armageddon" actor had become a frequent club-goer in Las Vegas, where the "huge gambler" would engage in wild antics. "Whenever he's in Vegas, he's at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and the money is flying," said an anonymous insider.

Days after the "Changing Lanes" star entered treatment, People reported that fellow-actor Charlie Sheen played a key role in Affleck's recovery. Per the outlet, Affleck reached out to Sheen, who helped secure a room for him at the posh treatment center. The "Two and a Half Men" star also drove Affleck to his first stint in rehab, which reportedly cost $33,850 a month.

Despite previously admitting that his drinking contributed to his divorce from Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck seemingly changed his tune in 2021, and suggested that his marriage may have further complicated his recovery. "I'd probably still be drinking. It's part of why I started drinking ... because I was trapped," Affleck told Howard Stern (via People). "I was like 'I can't leave 'cause of my kids, but I'm not happy, what do I do?' What I did was drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution."

Following Affleck's remarks, sources close to Garner revealed to In Touch Weekly that the "Elektra" star was hurt by her ex-husband's claims and felt as if they were "disrespectful" and a "slap in the face." A source further revealed "Jen isn't particularly happy with Ben's wording on the subject" and that she "wouldn't have used that phrase or even opened up publicly like that."

Affleck appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and clarified his comments. "I would never want my kids to think I would ever say a bad word about their mom," he said. "It hurts my feelings." The two then joked about how the media can sometimes take things "out of context" and turn it into "clickbait."