Ben Affleck announced on Instagram today that he completed his third stint in rehab, and it's expected that his divorce from Jennifer Garner will be finalized sooner rather than later.
Recently, Jennifer filed a request in a Los Angeles court to have a retired judge be the designated judge in her divorce case. According to E! News, this will accelerate the process. The judge's appointment only lasts until March 1 or the final divorce settlement, whichever comes first. They actually reached a settlement in August, but a source told E! it wouldn't be finalized until Ben was out of rehab.
He released a statement on Instagram today about his recovery, thanking his family and friends for their support.
"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,” Ben wrote. “Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle. Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is full-time commitment. I am fighting for myself and my family.”
Ben will reportedly continue outpatient care now that he's done with his 40-day rehab stay. He got help for alcohol addiction for the first time in 2001 and then again in 2017.
“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," he wrote. "I hope down the road I can offer an example to others who are struggling.”
Emma Baty is the Senior Entertainment Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she shapes TV, movie and music coverage, writes celebrity profiles, edits stories across both print and digital, and generally obsesses over all things pop culture. Prior to this role, she worked as Cosmopolitan.com’s News Writer, writing celebrity news stories daily and covering live events like the Oscars. Originally from Grand Haven, Michigan, she currently lives in Brooklyn.
