He may be one of Hollywood's most bankable A-list stars, with a penchant for luxury and the finer things in life, but Ben Affleck has demonstrated he's not above indulging in some classic fast food comfort. The acclaimed actor, now 53, was photographed on Thursday making a visit to a McDonald's outlet in Los Angeles, where he picked up a serving of French fries before promptly beginning to devour them inside his sophisticated BMW vehicle.
Fast Food Comfort Amid Hollywood Turmoil
The potential for creating a mess inside his sleek automobile appeared to be of minimal concern to Affleck, who instead seemed entirely focused on satisfying his appetite. This isn't an isolated incident for the frequent McDonald's customer, who has been captured on multiple occasions over the years grabbing food from the popular fast food chain, clearly establishing it as one of his favourite pit stops.
This comfort food indulgence may have provided a welcome distraction for Affleck, whose name has recently become entangled in the very public and messy feud between actress Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni. If the ongoing drama was weighing on his mind during his fast food run, the actor certainly wasn't showing any visible signs of concern.
Court Documents Reveal Lively's Plea for Assistance
It emerged just one day prior to Affleck's McDonald's visit that Lively had apparently sought the actor's assistance during her contentious dispute with Baldoni, her co-star and director on the film It Ends with Us. Newly released court documents from their ongoing legal battle include an email the actress wrote to a recipient who appears to be Affleck, though his name has been redacted from the public filings.
The message was sent in May 2024 during the film's post-production phase, a period during which Lively and Baldoni – both of whom held producing credits on the project – allegedly clashed dramatically over creative direction. Their disagreements reportedly escalated to the point where they assembled competing edits of the movie.
Lively's Detailed Allegations and Requests
In her supposed email to Affleck, who previously directed Lively in the 2010 film The Town, the actress requested that he 'watch the movie and give me any ideas or notes' on her version of the cut. She also made troubling references to 'wild HR issues' connected to Baldoni, who has firmly denied her allegations of sexual harassment in the formal complaint that initiated their legal war.
The newly unveiled court documents also contain messages that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, allegedly sent to Affleck's close friend Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso. In these communications, they reportedly lambasted Baldoni for his 'enormous ego,' according to reports from Us Weekly.
In the email purportedly sent to Affleck, Lively wrote: 'I’ve just come out the other side (well almost) of the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie.' She continued with a striking comparison: 'The making of doc of this film would be more interesting than the movie could ever be. It’s like if Wild Wild Country, Fyre Festival and Going Clear had a baby with The Room…Room also works though.'
Further Revelations About the Troubled Production
Lively claimed she 'ended up rewriting and restructuring the entire script,' then added, apparently in reference to Baldoni, that she also had 'to direct the movie via the chaotic clown "director"/actor/producer/financier/studio head at the center. Yes, that's all the same person.' She described 'everyone' among Baldoni's hires as being 'in a cult,' while intimating she had endured 'wild HR issues' on what she called a 'difficult' set.
The actress apparently requested that Affleck, who directed the Oscar-winning film Argo, offer his guidance on the project via 'a voice memo' before she was left to 'duke it out' with Baldoni over the final edit. In the same email, she also solicited feedback from his then-wife Jennifer Lopez as well as his children Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 13, from his previous marriage to Jennifer Garner.
'I’m such a fan of Jennifer’s, I’ve told her as much every time I’ve met her, and it would be an honor to have her take,' said Lively, evidently referring to Lopez. She added: 'Again, zero pressure. I just really want this to work after all I’ve put into it. This movie nearly killed me. And I can think of very few people who would be as prescriptive and insightful as I know you would be.'
Messages to Damon and Barroso
Meanwhile, in messages she allegedly sent to Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso, Lively claimed the 'movie nearly killed me.' The Café Society actress added: 'The director/costar/producer/financier/head of the studio (yes all one person) had zero experience, but the good news is he also has no taste, and an enormous ego, but only because he’s in a cult and believes he’s our century’s prophet. I wish even one of these things was hyperbole.'
Barroso apparently offered her condolences on what she called Lively's 'awful' alleged ordeal, while Damon evidently responded that he and his wife would 'give you any help we can.' Promoting his own production company, he is said to have added: 'And if this experience hasn’t totally destroyed your soul, Blake, you should come direct your next movie at Artists Equity. We’re kind of like a cult but a really nice one.'
As these dramatic revelations continue to unfold through the court system, Affleck's simple pleasure of enjoying McDonald's fries in his car serves as a striking contrast to the intense behind-the-scenes battles currently rocking Hollywood.
