Ben Affleck drew attention on Monday night outside the Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood when he was seen smoking a cigarette and leaning back with a relaxed expression. The 53-year-old actor’s laid-back moment quickly caught fans’ eyes online, with many predicting it could become his next viral meme.
Affleck, dressed in a three-piece suit with his top buttons undone, looked at ease after a night out. The Batman star was spotted holding the cigarette in his mouth without using his hands at times, a gesture that gave him a carefree, almost cinematic air. Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband has a long and well-documented history with smoking.
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He began the habit as a teenager and at one point was known to smoke a pack a day. In 2005, during his marriage to Jennifer Garner, Affleck decided to quit after hypnotherapy sessions recommended by his close friend Matt Damon. The decision came shortly after Garner’s pregnancy with their first child, which motivated Affleck to make the change.
He later shared that the sessions helped him understand the dangers of nicotine and that quitting had significantly improved his health. However, over the years, the Good Will Hunting actor has struggled to stay away from cigarettes.
Last August, he was photographed chain-smoking in his car just a day after Lopez filed for divorce, a moment that reignited public interest in his personal habits. Despite occasional efforts to quit, Affleck has continued to smoke intermittently. Reports earlier this year suggested he was once again considering giving up cigarettes and might return to hypnotherapy to help him stop for good, according to the Daily Mail.
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Affleck’s ongoing relationship with smoking has often paralleled his public battles with other addictions. He has been candid about his struggles with alcohol, admitting in past interviews that recovery has been a long and challenging process. His openness about these issues has made him one of Hollywood’s more relatable figures, even as his private life continues to attract widespread attention.
Monday’s photos outside the Sunset Tower Hotel are the latest in a series of candid moments that have kept Affleck in the spotlight. Fans flooded social media with comments and memes, many humorously dubbing the moment “classic Ben Affleck energy.”
Whether it was simply a quiet moment or another meme-worthy snapshot, Affleck once again reminded the public why his off-screen life continues to fascinate as much as his performances on it.