The 53-year-old actor was seen navigating traffic in his black sedan when he grabbed a Marlboro Menthol from the box hands-free. Moments later, he was photographed smoking with the window rolled down, dressed sharply in a dark blue suit.
Affleck famously quit smoking back in 2005 after turning to hypnotherapy — a method reportedly recommended by his longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon. At the time, he said becoming a father motivated him to prioritize his health while married to Jennifer Garner.
During a 2008 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Affleck admitted he had once smoked a pack a day and described it as deeply ingrained in his identity. He said deciding to quit came when he learned he was about to become a father. Reflecting on the hypnosis sessions, he explained that the experience reframed nicotine as poison, shifting his mindset almost instantly. He even pinpointed his final cigarette: November 10, 2005, later noting he felt noticeably healthier after quitting.
However, the habit resurfaced in 2016. In recent years — particularly following his 2025 divorce from Jennifer Lopez — Affleck has been photographed smoking on several occasions.
Meanwhile, Garner has been candid about navigating life as a co-parent since their 2015 split after a decade of marriage. The former couple share three children — Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel — and have remained committed to raising them together.
Speaking on Bustle’s One Nightstand podcast, Garner reflected on the realities of parenting across two households. She explained that when children divide their time between homes, each parent inevitably steps into both nurturing and disciplinary roles. While she acknowledged there’s a sense of loss in not having both parental energies under one roof, she also said the experience has helped her loosen her grip on perfection and approach parenting with more flexibility.
Despite the changes in their personal lives, both Affleck and Garner continue to prioritize their children — even as their individual paths unfold in the public eye.
