Jennifer Garner Says Photographers ‘Knocked Over’ Kids to Get Images of Her and Ben Affleck During Their Marriage

Jennifer Garner has recently shared her experiences with the paparazzi, particularly regarding their relentless pursuit of her children during her marriage to Ben Affleck. This candid discussion took place on the “Shut Up Evan” podcast hosted by Evan Ross Katz, where the actress addressed the troubling obsession some photographers had with her family and the resulting impact on her children’s lives.

Garner, who is now 54, has three children with her ex-husband Affleck: Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 12. During the podcast, she characterised the behaviour of the paparazzi as “ludicrous,” highlighting how it often put her family in dangerous situations. She recounted instances where photographers would aggressively chase her vehicle, explaining, “If I went through a yellow light, 15 cars would go through the red behind me. They would drive up onto people’s lawns, even on a hillside.”

The intense scrutiny ultimately forced one of her children to abandon their soccer practice due to safety concerns. “The [soccer] association asked us to stop [attending] because there were 20 cars coming [to practice]. It wasn’t just about us. It was an industry that had gotten out of control,” she lamented. This excessive interest provoked significant disruptions in her family’s routine, affecting their day-to-day activities.

Garner also recalled a particularly alarming incident when she struggled to get her sick child to a paediatrician due to photographers blocking access to the office. “There’s something wrong with that,” she emphasised, adding that the children were bearing the brunt of this intrusive entertainment industry. She described how young kids were sometimes knocked over while exiting preschool as photographers scrambled to catch a glimpse of her or Affleck. “You gotta stop, you gotta watch for the little kids. You don’t belong at a school, you know?” she said sternly.

Despite acknowledging the privileges they enjoyed, Garner expressed her frustration at the invasive nature of paparazzi attention. She mentioned that while many “more famous and successful” individuals lived nearby, it was her that would attract the relentless attention of photographers. “They wouldn’t follow Ben,” she noted. “They wouldn’t follow Matt Damon,” underscoring how she felt singled out because of her role as a mother.

The actress disclosed that two photographers have consistently followed her for over two decades, resulting in a complex relationship. “I have a very interesting relationship with my main guy,” she admitted, noting a strange mutual respect that had developed over the years. However, she recounted a time when she felt threatened by a different follower and instinctively turned to the photographer for help, highlighting the nuanced and often troubling dynamics of celebrity and privacy.

Garner’s commitment to advocating for change in paparazzi laws has been longstanding. She testified before the California legislature in 2013 to support a bill designed to shield children of celebrities from harassment by photographers. This campaign was born from her experiences, which have included confronting aggressive paparazzi since her daughter Violet was just three years old. In 2020, she described the pandemonium surrounding her family as a “total circus,” revealing the immense pressures that came with public attention.

The actress has also voiced her disappointment regarding the lack of personal family photos, stating that her children were often frightened by the cameras surrounding them. She recalled an incident where Violet, at just six years old, expressed her discomfort vocally: “We didn’t ask for this. We don’t want these cameras, they’re scary.” Such moments reflect not just the challenges of growing up in the public eye but also the emotional toll it takes on children.

Jennifer Garner’s experiences shed light on the often-unseen struggles faced by families whose lives intersect with celebrity culture. Her impassioned pleas for protective laws are a vital reminder of the importance of considering the well-being of children amid the relentless pursuit of fame. As she continues to navigate this landscape, her efforts to advocate for her children and others like them remain as crucial as ever.