Ben Affleck’s frank parenting admission amid emotional reunion with Matt Damon

Ben Affleck has opened up about his kids, as he made a rare red carpet appearance with lifelong bestie Matt Damon. See the video.

Ben Affleck has made a frank admission about parenting as he reunited with his lifelong best friend Matt Damon for a rare red carpet appearance.

The pair joined forces for the world premiere of Affleck’s new movie, The Accountant 2, at the 2025 South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas.

Damon, who is filming Christopher Nolan’s epic fantasy-action film The Odyssey, was sporting a long beard.

An unusually animated Affleck opened up about his 13-year-old son Samuel’s taste for expensive sneakers, telling an anecdote that most parents could relate to.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck attend the world premiere of The Accountant 2 in Austin, Texas. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

It came after Affleck revealed earlier this week that Samuel wanted his father to buy him a pair of $6000 Dior Air Force One sneakers when the teen spotted the shoes at a convention. 

Affleck had warned him “that’s a lot of lawns you gotta mow there”.

When asked by a reporter on the red carpet if his son had “started mowing the lawn” to raise some pocket money to buy a pair of the sneakers, the usually reserved actor let rip.

Affleck rolled his eyes, saying teenage kids were always resorting to “some grift” to get what they wanted.

He then went into detail about the conversation that took place.

“We do not need thousand dollar shoes,” Affleck said he told his son. 

The actor said his son then replied: “We have the money.”

An exasperated Affleck said he told his son: “Yes, I have the money, you’re broke.”

The interview drew comments from delighted fans who said the star — who recently split from Jennifer Lopez and was known for his sullen red carpet appearances during their marriage — was in fine form.

Ben Affleck reflected on parenting as he hit the red carpet. Picture: Getty Images

“This is the most natural I’ve seen him in an interview in years. Looks good on him,” one wrote. 

Another posted: “I have the money, you’re broke, is priceless.”

The hilarious red carpet interview came as Affleck celebrated his decades-long friendship with his Good Will Hunting co-star and co-writer, Damon, who is one of the producers of The Accountant 2.

“It’s a beautiful thing. You know, I don’t have very many — none of us really have very many friends,” Affleck told People. “You don’t need a million friends. You need a few good ones.

“And I’m really lucky to have had a friend in Matt. I’m lucky to have friends like that in my life.”

Originally published as Ben Affleck’s frank parenting admission amid emotional reunion with Matt Damon