Jennifer Garner Says Avoiding Gossip Helped Her Navigate Divorce From Ben Affleck

Jennifer Garner says deliberately avoiding tabloid gossip played a central role in how she navigated her divorce from actor Ben Affleck and rebuilt stability for her family. Speaking in a new interview with Marie Claire UK, the actress reflected on co-parenting, public scrutiny, and the personal cost of ending a long-term partnership.

Garner, 52, has often been cited as an example of amicable co-parenting in Hollywood, but she said that reputation was not shaped by consuming media coverage or public commentary. Instead, she described making a conscious decision to disengage from gossip entirely.

Choosing distance from tabloid culture

Garner told Marie Claire UK that she avoids reading or engaging with tabloid stories, particularly those involving her family. She said the choice was rooted in self-preservation rather than image management.

“It doesn’t serve me to take in gossip about myself or anyone else, much less my kids, so I don’t do it,” she said.

The actress shares three children with Affleck: Violet, born in 2005; Seraphina, born in 2009; and Samuel, born in 2012. She said protecting her children from unnecessary public narratives has remained a priority long after the end of her marriage.

Garner and Affleck married in June 2005 and announced their separation in 2015, one day after their 10th wedding anniversary. Their divorce was finalized in 2018.

Public attention long after separation

Despite their split more than a decade ago, Garner and Affleck continue to attract attention when they are seen together, particularly at family events involving their children. Their appearances often prompt renewed speculation, a reality Garner acknowledged without engaging directly.

The attention intensified in 2024 when the former couple were photographed together at their son Samuel’s birthday party, shortly after Affleck finalized his divorce from singer and actress Jennifer Lopez. Neither Garner nor Affleck publicly addressed the renewed headlines at the time.

In the Marie Claire UK interview, Garner said she learned over time to be selective about what she allows into her mental space.

“You have to be smart about what you can and can’t handle,” she said. “And I could not handle what was out there.”

Ben Affleck echoes similar views

Affleck has previously expressed a similar skepticism toward tabloid narratives. In a 2024 interview with GQ, he described how he and Garner once dealt with sensational headlines by reminding themselves of their inaccuracies.

“We used to have a thing, my ex-wife and I, when they would see something on a supermarket stand,” Affleck said. “We would say, ‘Well, you know this isn’t always true because if it were, you would have 15 brothers or sisters.’”

The comments suggested a shared understanding between the former spouses about the limits of public reporting and the importance of maintaining perspective amid frequent speculation.

The personal cost behind the headlines

While much of the public focus has remained on appearances and perceived harmony, Garner emphasized that the emotional reality of the divorce was far more difficult than external scrutiny.

“The fact of it is what was hard,” she said. “The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard. Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard.”

Her comments underscored a distinction between public narratives and private experience, highlighting the enduring impact of family separation regardless of status or media attention.

Garner did not frame the divorce in terms of blame or conflict, instead focusing on loss and adjustment. She suggested that healing required accepting what could not be controlled, including how others perceived the situation.

Career continues alongside family life

The interview coincided with Garner’s promotion of the second season of the Apple TV+ thriller The Last Thing He Told Me, in which she stars as a woman uncovering secrets after her husband’s sudden disappearance.

The new season is scheduled to premiere on February 20, expanding on the first season’s success and marking another high-profile project for the actress, who has balanced film, television, and family commitments in recent years.

While discussing her career, Garner returned repeatedly to the theme of boundaries, suggesting that the same discipline applied to her personal life has also shaped her professional longevity.

A deliberate approach to privacy

Garner’s remarks reflect a broader strategy she has maintained for years: limiting public commentary, avoiding speculation, and focusing on stability for her children. Rather than responding to narratives as they emerge, she said she chooses distance.

For Garner, avoiding gossip is not a temporary coping mechanism but a sustained practice. She framed it as essential to maintaining clarity and emotional health in an environment where personal lives are routinely scrutinized.

As public interest in celebrity relationships continues, her approach offers a glimpse into how some high-profile figures manage long-term exposure without engaging directly with it.