Ben Affleck’s candid admission that political “hypocrisy, corruption and failure” left him “disillusioned” highlights a feeling many people may recognize: the exhaustion that comes when reality falls short of expectations.
Ben Affleck’s political disillusionment raises bigger question about holding on to your values
While conversing with Variety, the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star said he finds the prospect of becoming a politician “terrible” and “tawdry.”
“I just think that’s enormously — I don’t know, man, that seems terrible,” Affleck told the outlet while promoting a new movie in which he plays a candidate for L.A. mayor.
Affleck added, “There’s a reason why political stories are often chosen as parables for moral compromise. You really get thrust up into the contrast between the ideal version of us and how we should be in our lives and the way it is.”
The 54-year-old called politics a “very depressing world, in my opinion. Tawdry. And that has no appeal to me.”
4. He also refused to disclose his preferred candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral election scheduled for November.
“I haven’t thought about being asked that. I don’t know if, given this movie, my endorsement harms or helps anybody,” he admitted.
The Gone Girl star mentioned, “I should stay agnostic, at least until the movie comes out.”
Affleck has previously been involved in politics, campaigning for candidates including former Vice President Al Gore and former President Barack Obama.
However, he said he is now “averse” to the idea after witnessing what he described as “hypocrisy, corruption and failure.”
Affleck also said his film Animals explores the moral compromises people make when they have something to lose, questioning whether people rationalize self-serving choices or uphold their moral principles despite the cost.
How to cope when your beliefs no longer feel the same
Changing beliefs can be unsettling, but experts suggest allowing yourself time to process the shift without judgment.
Reflecting on what has changed, accepting uncomfortable emotions, separating your identity from past convictions and talking to trusted people can help you navigate uncertainty and gradually develop a perspective that aligns with your current values.
