Ben Affleck has given a candid update on his love life, revealing that dating is currently far from the top of his priority list.

The 54-year-old actor and filmmaker opened up while attending the Los Angeles premiere of his new Netflix movie Animals on October 2, 2026 where he was asked about recent speculation surrounding his romantic life. 

Speaking to ET, Ben explained that most of his time is taken up by work and his three children, whom he shares with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

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“I work a lot and I see my kids,” he said, adding that there is “not a lot of room” for much else right now. “I’m not running around.” 

Despite that, Ben insisted he is perfectly content with where he is in life, describing himself as “happy” and suggesting he isn’t completely closed off to romance should it happen naturally. 

The rare admission comes two years after Ben and Jennifer Lopez separated in April 2024 following their headline-making reunion and marriage.

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Jennifer filed for divorce in August 2024, exactly two years after the couple held their Georgia wedding celebration, citing irreconcilable differences and listing April 26 as their date of separation. Their divorce was finalized in January 2025. 

Ben and Jennifer had famously rekindled their romance in 2021, nearly two decades after calling off their first engagement. They eloped in Las Vegas in July 2022 before holding a second ceremony at Ben’s Georgia estate the following month. 

His latest comments also came as he addressed an unexpected rumor involving Shakira.

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The View co-host Ana Navarro recently claimed she had attempted to set Ben up with the Colombian singer, although she acknowledged that she had never actually met the actor. 

Ben appeared genuinely surprised when the suggestion was put to him on the red carpet, saying he usually hears such stories for the first time from reporters.

“I swear to God, I never heard that in my whole life,” he said, firmly pouring cold water on the rumored matchmaking attempt.

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For now, family appears to remain Ben’s main focus. The actor shares Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 14, with Jennifer Garner, whom he married in 2005 before the pair separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018. 

Ben has previously offered glimpses into his post-divorce outlook. While promoting The Accountant 2 in 2025, he admitted that “it’s not easy figuring out relationships,” while later describing his split from Jennifer Lopez.