Ben Affleck confirmed this afternoon that he has left the in-patient rehab program he checked into in August to treat his alcohol addiction. His ex Jennifer Garner had staged the final intervention then that led to him getting help.
Affleck wrote on Instagram that he is in outpatient care now and will continue to fight to maintain his sobriety daily. He wrote:
This week I completed a forty day stay at a treatment center for alcohol addiction and remain in outpatient care.
The support I have received from my family, colleagues, and fans means more to me than I can say. It’s given me the strength and support to speak about my illness with others.
Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle. Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a full-time commitment. I am fighting for myself and my family. So many people have reached out on social media and spoken about their own journeys with addiction. To those people, I want to say thank you. Your strength is inspiring and is supporting me in ways I didn’t think was possible. It helps to know I am not alone. As I’ve had to remind myself, if you have a problem, getting help is a sign of courage, not weakness or failure.
With acceptance and humility, I continue to avail myself with the help of so many people and I am grateful to all those who are there for me. I hope down the road I can offer an example to others who are struggling.
The statement comes one day after outlets reported he was seemingly out of treatment and hours after news outlets reported that Garner had filed to finalize her divorce from Affleck.
Affleck has sought treatment for his alcohol addiction multiple times. He released a statement at the conclusion of his last public treatment in March 2017.
"I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront," he wrote then. "I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step. I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do. This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery."
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
