Ben Affleck Said His Boston Friends Saw Dating Jennifer Lopez as a Bigger Achievement Than His Oscar 

In the years after winning an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, Ben Affleck proved his star was still on the rise when he entered into a high-profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Their romance captured global attention and landed them on the covers of countless tabloids. Affleck said news of his relationship brought him attention from people he hadn’t spoken to in years. They seemed to view his romance with Lopez as a bigger deal than his career.

Ben Affleck joked that people from his hometown saw his relationship with Jennifer Lopez as a major achievement

When Affleck and Lopez’s relationship became public knowledge, he began getting phone calls from people in his old neighborhood. In an interview, Access Hollywood’s Pat O’Brien asked Affleck what his old friends said about his new girlfriend.

“‘I got you bro. Listen I don’t mean to get in your business or nothing, but are you really with J.Lo? Tell the truth? Did you have sex with her? Did you tell me the truth? Don’t lie to me,’” Affleck said, affecting a Boston accent. “I got a couple of guys that haven’t heard from, you know, 10 years from Boston. You were never impressed with anything I’ve ever done in my life until they were like, no sir, Affleck. It can’t be true.”

He said that this romance, over his film career and Oscar win, became a point of fascination for people.

“That’s the question, ‘did you have sex with her? You did? No sir, for real? I can’t believe it, man. I love this. Mom remember Affleck, that skinny kid from down the block?’ So I made good in Boston,” he said. “That was my crowning achievement.”

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez agreed the amount of attention they received was disorienting

While Affleck joked about the attention from his former schoolmates, he generally didn’t appreciate the scrutiny on his relationship.

“I don’t know what’s the fascination. It seems strange to me,” he said. “I don’t know what to tell you. I think you can really make yourself crazy if you start thinking about who is paying attention to me, who is interested in me.”

Lopez agreed that it was “strange.” While they both had been in high-profile relationships in the past, this was unlike anything either had ever experienced.

The couple argued over which of their hometown baseball teams to support

Though Affleck’s childhood friends found his relationship with Lopez impressive, they would likely not be happy with her baseball team of choice. When asked whether their future child would support the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees, Affleck seemed sick at the idea of raising a Yankees fan.

“The Mets is fine. I could put up with the Mets. The Mets I could live with,” he said. “I can’t — pinstripes can’t be in the house … Can’t abide it. I can’t.”

Lopez was more diplomatic, saying their child could choose whatever team they wanted to support. Affleck disagreed.

“I don’t see — not if he wants to have a father he won’t. [laughter]”