Ben Affleck had the unwavering support of his longtime friend Matt Damon at the SXSW premiere of The Accountant 2, 

even as drama surrounding his personal life continued to make headlines. The Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker made his way to Austin,

Texas, on Saturday, where he reunited with his Good Will Hunting co-star amid speculation about his relationship

with ex-wife Jennifer Garner and recent reports of Jennifer Lopez’s frustration over their close bond.

Matt Damon Stands by Ben Affleck at SXSW Premiere

Affleck, 52, arrived at the Paramount Theatre for the premiere of The Accountant 2, joined by co-star Jon Bernthal.

Damon, 54, made his entrance separately, arriving in a black SUV a few minutes before Affleck and Bernthal, who pulled up in a Ford pickup truck towing an Airstream trailer.

As Affleck stepped onto the red carpet, he and Damon posed for photos together, displaying the kind of camaraderie that has defined their decades-long friendship. Speaking about their close bond, Affleck reflected on how rare it is to have true friends in life.

“It’s a beautiful thing. None of us really have that many friends,” he told People. “You don’t need a million friends. You need a few good ones. And I’m really lucky to have had a friend in Matt. … I’m lucky to have friends like that in my life.”

Jennifer Lopez Reportedly Upset Over Affleck and Garner’s Paintball Outing

While Affleck was celebrating his latest cinematic project, his personal life remained a hot topic. Just a week before the SXSW event, the Gone Girl star was photographed sharing a friendly moment with his first ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, during a family outing at a paintball park in Castaic, California.

Affleck, who shares three children with Garner—Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 12—was seen with his arm around her waist while she focused on a target with her paintball gun. The exes appeared to be in good spirits, smiling and chatting while their son Samuel played with friends.

However, Affleck’s second ex-wife, Jennifer Lopez, was reportedly “furious” after seeing the photos. A source claimed that the singer and actress, 55, is “not happy with constantly seeing photos” of Affleck and Garner together, adding that the affectionate moments between them have been like “salt in the wound.”

Affleck and Garner: Rekindling the Past?

Rumors of a potential reconciliation between Affleck and Garner have swirled in recent months, with insiders claiming that the Argo director “would definitely be open to giving things another shot” if the timing was right. However, sources close to Garner insist that she has moved on and is not interested in rekindling their romance.

Affleck and Garner were married for 13 years before finalizing their divorce in 2018. Despite their split, the two have remained on good terms, co-parenting their children and frequently spending time together.

Meanwhile, Lopez, who rekindled her romance with Affleck in 2021 and married him in 2022, filed for divorce in August 2024. Their divorce was finalized in January 2025, marking the end of their short-lived but highly publicized marriage.

Affleck Focuses on His Career

With his personal life under the spotlight, Affleck remains focused on his professional endeavors. His latest film, The Accountant 2, is set to hit theaters in April 2025, bringing back his character from the 2016 action thriller.

Despite the ongoing media attention surrounding his relationships, Affleck continues to receive unwavering support from Damon, who has been by his side since their breakthrough in Hollywood. Their long-standing friendship remains one of the few constants in Affleck’s life, proving that through all the ups and downs, some bonds remain unshakable.