'It's Not His Fault!' Ben's Dad Blames Hollywood For Famous Son's Downward Spiral
Feb. 7 2018, Updated 10:49 a.m. ET
"I want Ben to be happy, but I don’t believe a woman can straighten him out!” declared Ben Affleck’s dad in a world exclusive RadarOnline.com interview.
Baring his soul with shocking candor, Tim Affleck blamed Hollywood for his famous son’s life-threatening addictions and the collapse of Ben’s 12-year marriage to Jennifer Garner!
“Hollywood is a disgusting place!” Tim raged. “I’m not a big fan of the entertainment world. I know it’s taken its toll on Ben.”
Ben has been in and out of rehab for his drinking — in 2001 and 2017 — and Tim charged Hollywood “has been a major factor” in his struggle for sobriety.
“You’re kind of forced to develop a persona that is hard to shed and go home to your family,” Tim spilled. “It affects your whole life. I think that’s one of the dangers of the film industry.”
Of course, Ben himself has pointed the finger of blame at his father, claiming he watched his dad drink “all day, every day.” And Tim admitted: “That may have had some influence.”
“Growing up I saw my parents drink,” Tim said sadly. “Everyone was doing it. I thought, Why not?”
But Tim, who is 27 years sober, doesn’t feel responsible for Ben’s trials.
“Everyone has their own demons, their own baggage,” he insisted. “I think there are other problems in the entertainment field that can cause you to be unhappy.”
The father and son have even spoken about Ben’s problem with alcohol, Tim confided.
“I know what he’s going through. Of course we speak about it, and we do have a shared history, at least in terms of struggle. Ben’s always been serious about getting sober. He wants a balanced life and he’s working at it.”
But he fears Ben is leaning too heavily on the women in his life to get him through. He openly cheated on Garner until she finally divorced him last year. Now he’s flaunting his romance with Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus — who pals said he was seeing while still married to Jennifer.
“I don’t necessarily believe one person should be with someone forever,” Tim sighed. “Some people might, but history has proven it often doesn’t work.”
Tim revealed to RadarOnline.com it’s all devastating for his grandchildren, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 5.
“They know what’s going on,” Tim continued.
But don’t look for Ben and his blonde gal pal to start a family, said Tim: “My suspicion tells me he won’t have any more children.”
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