“Ben wasn’t in a good place in his life to have a girlfriend”: Frustrating Reason Why Gwyneth Paltrow’s Romance With Ben Affleck Failed
Gwyneth Paltrow is happily married to TV writer Brad Falchuk. Their love story began on the set of the musical comedy show Glee. In 2010, Paltrow guest-starred on the show while Falchuk was a co-creator. However, at that time, both were married to other people.
Fast forward a few years, their paths crossed again in 2014 after they both went through separate breakups. They started dating quietly and went public with their relationship a year later.
Love blossomed, and they got secretly engaged in 2017. In 2018, they finally tied the knot, with Paltrow even calling it her true wedding. The Hollywood actress has publicly praised her husband, calling him kind, intelligent, and her equal.
However, she isn’t shying away from discussing her past loves, either! In a 2015 interview, the now 51-year-old reflected on her high-profile romance with Ben Affleck. And there’s a very specific reason why things ultimately didn’t work out.
The Surprising Reason Behind Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck’s Split
Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck had a whirlwind romance in the late 90s. They met at a party hosted by Harvey Weinstein and soon dated on and off between 1997 and 2000. They even co-starred in two movies together – Shakespeare in Love and Bounce!
The couple seemed to have a lot in common. However, it wasn’t meant to last. People reported that Paltrow’s parents weren’t fans of the Caped Crusader actor. She has also admitted that he wasn’t quite ready for a serious relationship at the time. In an interview with Howard Stern, Gwynnie said (via CBS News):
He [Affleck] wasn’t in a good place in his life to have a girlfriend.
The two broke up in 1999 but reconnected briefly before ending things for good in 2000. Despite the short-lived romance, the two remain friends. Paltrow even went on to express her admiration for Affleck’s (then) wife, Jennifer Garner. She praised Jenna for being kind, funny, and really committed to her family.
Gwyneth Paltrow Speaks Freely About Her Ex-Partners
Gwyneth Paltrow admitted to falling head-over-heels for Brad Pitt, whom she dated after co-starring in the 1995 thriller Se7en. “He was so gorgeous and sweet,” she gushed in the same interview with Howard Stern. But looking back, the Iron Man star stated they were both pretty young then. Paltrow thinks her being immature played a part in why it didn’t work out. She said:
I was such a kid. I was 22 when we met. It’s taken me until 40 to get my head out of my a*s.
Paltrow again looked back on her past relationships with both Pitt and Affleck when she was on the Call Her Daddy podcast in 2022. The host, Alex Cooper, asked her some direct questions, like which of the two was better in bed. To this, Gwyn said:
Brad was like the sort of major chemistry, love of your life, kind of, at the time and then Ben was, like, technically excellent.
Paltrow later chuckled, saying she couldn’t believe her daughter listening to this!
