According to Kevin Smith, director of 1997’s Chasing Amy, Ben Affleck apparently once said kissing another male is “the greatest challenge an actor can ever face.”
Smith claims Affleck even hailed himself “a serious actor” after shooting a same-sax kiss for the film.
Related: Ben Affleck’s & Neil Patrick Harris’ Penises Go Online
The film, adored by critics and audiences upon release, stars Affleck as a comic book artist who has a falling out with his bestie (Jason Lee) after falling in love with a bisexual woman (Joey Lauren Adams.)
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Related: Matt Damon Finally Straddles Ben Affleck
Gay Star News reports Smith told audiences at a 20th anniversary screening at Outfest on July 15th that Affleck was quite wary of having to briefly lock lips with Lee.
Smith says the 23-year-old star said “a man kissing another man is the greatest acting challenge an actor can ever face.”
Related: Watch Ben Affleck’s Deleted Nude Scene In Otherwise Execrable “Batman V Superman”
After the scene was shot, Affleck allegedly said: “Now, I’m a serious actor.”
In 1997 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Affleck said, “I’m not homophobic… I guess I am, more than I thought, in that, you know, it was just difficult for me, and I didn’t think it would be.”
You can watch that interview below:
Luc
This comment was made TWENTY YEARS ago!!!!! If you’re looking for reasons to be mad at Ben Affleck, you don’t have to look THAT far. My goodness!!
Brian
“…looking for reasons to be mad…”
Listen to yourself, screamy.
Luc
You make a good point… ?
Luc
I put in an emoji, and it translated to a question mark. UGH.
BitterOldQueen
Ben Affleck was a smug, self-important jackass twenty years ago, and he still is today, so hooray for consistency of character. That said, not wanting to kiss another man is not, I’m sorry to say (because clearly Ben would like to be all trendy and acknowledge his privileges), per se homophobic. It means you’re a straight man, and don’t want to kiss another man any more than I want to get all tonguey with a woman (and no, that does not make me misogynistic, it makes me a homosexual man). But because you’re an ac-tor, your character sometimes does things that you yourself wouldn’t do, and sure that can be uncomfortable, but it’s not your own personal red badge of I’m-a-bad-rich-white-entitled-person. You’ll have to look deeper for that, honey.
Nahald
Like he and his BFF Matt Damon never fooled around a little when they were younger.
Chevelter
Must be a slow news day, huh?
Seth
Queerty in ’17: A person writing a new, relevant piece is the greatest writing challenge.
Herman75
Yeah, kissing a guy. Kudos Ben. But his brother is the great actor. Manchester by the Sea. Casey A. was so good in that one.
Keebler ILF
His Kevin Smith impression was surprisingly pretty good.
Nahald
Yea right Ben, like you and your BFF Matt Damon didn’t foll around a little.