If Ben Affleck isn’t on your list of top celebrity meme generators, we’re living in different worlds. Over the years, Ben has cemented himself as a true internet icon, even if no one can fully explain why he’s so relatable. In a new interview with GQ, he opened up about some of those viral moments — and why he thinks people love turning him into a meme.
“I don’t present myself very carefully,” Ben admitted. “I’ll go grab packages or coffee, and I don’t really care if someone takes a picture. Some people are more strategic about how they look in public, but me? I’m just like, ‘Whatever, I just want the coffee.’”
Of course, coffee is central to his most legendary meme moment — the infamous 2020 Dunkin’ Donuts run where he struggled to juggle way too many cups and bags. The internet hasn’t let him live it down since, and honestly, who hasn’t been there?
According to Ben, part of the appeal is that his life isn’t actually that dramatic. “I’m a middle-aged guy working a 9-to-5 at my production company. It’s pretty boring,” he said. But because people are so used to curated celebrity images, his unfiltered moments stick out even more.
And yes, he’s fully aware of the “Sad Affleck” meme. “I thought maybe I could just wear the same thing every day so pictures wouldn’t stand out. Or I’d just look like a slob — but then you become the Sad Affleck spilling his coffee. Which, honestly, I think is pretty funny.”
