Ben Affleck Has a ‘Lot of Empathy’ for Mega Pop Star After His Own Experiences

Ben Affleck is not a fan of paparazzi following him around, and for this reason, he empathizes with Britney Spears.

“I can remember a long time ago … I really had a lot of empathy for Britney Spears because I remember that it seemed like … you see all this [expletive] that comes through,” he said on the April 24 episode of “This Past Weekend.”

Affleck shared that he didn’t know Spears but added, “Having had my own experiences myself, I knew these are people who are following her around in a time where she may or may not have been having difficulty.”

The “Accountant” star explained that photographers “harangue” and “hassle” stars like Spears to get them riled up. He then compared the paparazzi to people who poke sticks at an animal, and wind up getting growled at as a result.

“This isn’t really news. It’s not real. It’s not what would be happening if this effect wasn’t taking place. And that’s where I thought, ‘Okay, the sort of wise thing to do is just maintain one’s perspective and try to remove yourself a little bit, which is what I would like to do,” Affleck told the host Theo Von.

Affleck Hilariously Explains His Resting Angry Face

Getty

Affleck has been caught many times looking upset in public, and he told Kevin Hart during season 4 of Peacock’s “Hart to Hart” that it’s because he’s shy.

He continued, “I also don’t like a lot of attention. That’s why people see me and they’re like, ‘Why’s this dude always mad?’ Because somebody has their camera and sticks it in my face, and I’m like, ‘Okay, here we go.'”

The “Good Will Hunting” star added that his face just tends to look unhappy and has been trolled by his family members.

“I also might be somebody who I do find myself, I’ll be sitting at home, and they’re like, ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘Nothing. Nothing’s wrong,'” he said.

Affleck joked, “I have resting hard face.”

Britney Spears Also Described Herself as Shy

It seems Affleck and Spears have more in common than they thought. In Spears’ 2013 documentary, “I Am Britney Jean,” she admits that her onstage persona is much different than it is in real life.

“I have always been kind of shy since I was a little girl. It’s who I am to be modest, so I really can’t help it. I turn into this different person,” she said.

Spears recalled, “There was a time in my life when I couldn’t ever leave the house without 20 cars following me.”

She continued, “I felt very alienated from the public. But as time passed, they lightened up, and they kind of went away after I wouldn’t come out of the house for like two years.”