Matt Damon has opened up about the depth of his decades-long friendship with Ben Affleck. The actors, who rose to fame together after co-writing “Good Will Hunting,” recently reflected on loyalty, fame, and friendship while appearing together on “The Howard Stern Show.” Their candid conversation offered a rare glimpse into how their relationship has remained steady despite intense public scrutiny. At the center of it all, Damon emphasized that being present for Affleck was never a question.
Matt Damon says he was there for Ben Affleck through alcohol addiction and divorces
During the SiriusXM interview, Ben Affleck spoke openly about a period in his life when he was “drinking too much.” Host Howard Stern then turned to Matt Damon and asked whether he had been able to step in and support his longtime friend during those moments, including through Affleck’s highly publicized divorces.
Damon’s response was direct and unwavering. “Oh, yeah,” he said, explaining that outside noise and media commentary never interfered with their friendship. “Our relationship isn’t affected by what people are saying,” he went on to add. “I was there for all of it,” Damon said, making clear that his support remained consistent throughout Affleck’s personal challenges.
Affleck appeared visibly moved by the sentiment, responding, “That means a lot to me. That’s sort of what a real friend is.” Stern described their relationship as “a great romance” rooted in “real love,” a characterization Affleck agreed with. He noted that the emotional core of “Good Will Hunting” reflected that kind of deep, formative friendship, particularly the intense loyalty young men can develop early in life.
The two actors, who met in Boston while growing up, also discussed navigating fame together. Damon remarked that they “hit the lottery” in Hollywood together, while Affleck suggested their shared experience helped keep them grounded. Having someone to reality-check sudden success, Affleck said, made it easier to stay “sane.”
Affleck has navigated two divorces under intense media scrutiny, having parted ways with Jennifer Garner in 2015 and Jennifer Lopez in 2025. Damon has previously acknowledged the difficulty of that level of scrutiny. In a 2024 podcast interview, he noted that he couldn’t imagine living under that kind of constant spotlight himself.
Now more than 25 years into parallel careers, Damon says their friendship has remained unchanged. “It’s been like that for 25 years,” he noted, adding that he feels “fortunate” to have avoided some aspects of fame that Affleck endured. Through it all, their bond, as they themselves report, has proven unshakable.
Originally reported by Zahrah Patel for RealityTea.
