On the red carpet at the premiere of the film "Animals" in Los Angeles on 2 October, Ben Affleck was confronted with a question he clearly did not expect. A reporter from Entertainment Tonight asked about rumors that Ana Navarro had tried to set him up with Shakira — and the actor responded sharply and directly: "I swear to God, I've never heard such a thing in my life."
The rumors arose after a casual comment by Navarro on The View: she supposedly wanted to introduce Affleck to the singer through their mutual acquaintance Matt Damon, having noticed him at Shakira's concert in Miami. Neither the actor nor the singer confirmed any meetings, and Shakira had already said earlier that she was not personally acquainted with Affleck. The story lived exclusively in headlines and social media.
Affleck did not simply reject the claim — he explained the mechanism by which such stories come about. "People gossip. They make things up. No one ever introduces me to anyone," he said. According to him, after his divorce from Jennifer Lopez in January 2025 year, he had grown used to his personal life becoming material for speculation, especially when it involves two famous single people.
Behind this denial lies more than just a desire to close the subject. Affleck clearly set out his priorities: work on new projects, three children from his marriage to Jennifer Garner, and no time to look for a relationship. "I work a lot, I see my kids — there's simply no room left for anything else. I don't go running around on dates," he stressed. Romance is not in focus right now.
Such rumors do not arise by chance: after Affleck's high-profile divorce from Lopez, the public and the media are looking for a new partner for a "perfect Hollywood happy ending." Two bright, successful and single people — a convenient formula for speculation. But Affleck's reaction shows how a star can regain control over his own narrative without letting the story grow.
For the actor himself, the moment proved telling: he not only closed the subject but also reminded everyone that his life does not boil down to romantic headlines. His children and work remain in first place, while rumors are merely background noise that he has learned to ignore.
