Matt Damon Has spoken openly about the depth of his decades-long friendship with ben affleck. The actors, who rose to fame after co-writing “Good Will Hunting” together, reflected on loyalty, fame and friendship while appearing together recently on “The Howard Stern Show.” Their candid conversation provided a rare glimpse of how their relationship has remained stable despite intense public scrutiny. At the center of it all, Damon emphasized that attending was never a question for Affleck.
Matt Damon says he was with Ben Affleck during his alcohol addiction and divorce
during SiriusXM In the interview, Ben Affleck opened up about a period in his life when he was “drinking too much.” Host Howard Stern turned to Matt Damon and asked if he was able to come forward and support his longtime friend during those moments, including Affleck’s highly publicized divorce.
Damon’s response was direct and firm. “Oh, yes,” he said, explaining that outside noise and media comments never interfered with their friendship. He further added, “Our relationship is not affected by what people are saying.” “I was there for all of it,” Damon said, making it clear that his support remained constant throughout Affleck’s personal challenges.
Affleck was clearly touched by the sentiment and responded, “It means a lot to me. That’s what a true friend is.” Stern described their relationship as “a great romance” rooted in “real love”, Affleck agreed with this characterization. He said that the emotional core of “Good Will Hunting” reflects the kind of deep, constructive friendships, especially the intense loyalty young men can develop early in life.
The two actors, who met in Boston while growing up, also discussed achieving fame together. Damon commented that they “hit the lottery” in Hollywood together, while Affleck suggested that their shared experience helped them stay grounded. Getting a reality check about one’s sudden success makes it easier to stay “sane,” Affleck said.
Affleck has faced two divorces under intense media scrutiny, after separating from Jennifer Garner in 2015 and Jennifer Lopez in 2025. Damon has previously acknowledged the difficulty of that level of investigation. In a 2024 podcast interview, he said that he could not imagine himself living in that kind of constant spotlight.
Now more than 25 years into parallel careers, Damon says their friendship remains unchanged. “It’s been that way for the last 25 years,” he said. He said he felt “fortunate” to have escaped some of the aspects of fame that Affleck endured. Through it all, their bond, as they themselves report, has proven unshakable.