Ben Affleck Gives Rare Interview About Relationship With Jennifer Lopez

Ben Affleck has given a rare interview about his high profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez, saying that the way she was treated at the time was "sexist, racist, ugly, vicious s**t".

Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporter's podcast, Awards Chatter, Affleck opened up about the abuse Lopez received during the relationship, saying she was subjected to vitriol for years.

"People were so f***ing mean about her; sexist, racist. Ugly, vicious s*** was written about her in ways that if you wrote it now you would literally be fired for saying those things you said," he said. "Now it's like, she's lionised and respected for the work she did, where she came from, what she accomplished- as well she f***ing should be. I would say you have a better shot, coming from the Bronx, of ending up as like [Justice Sonia] Sotomayor on the Supreme Court than you do of having Jennifer Lopez's career and being who she is at 50 years old today."

The pair, who remains friends to this day, first got together in July 2002, and were engaged three months later. They eventually split in January 2004. In the interview Affleck speculated on the attention the relationship got, saying that neither he nor Lopez ever wanted to become a tabloid focus.

"You know, there's always a story of the month, and me dating Jennifer Lopez happened to be that tabloid story at the time when that business grew exponentially."