Actor Ben Affleck, 53, stars alongside his longtime friend Matt Damon in the new movie The Rip, where he notably appears shirtless. During an interview on January 15 with Australian radio show The Fox 101.9’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, Affleck addressed comments about the seemingly unnecessary shirtless scene, defending his decision to show off his physique. The lighthearted discussion featured Brendan Fevola, former Australian Rules football player and radio host, who humorously questioned Affleck’s choice to go shirtless early in the film.
Good-Natured Banter with Matt Damon on Vanity and Lighting
Fevola jokingly remarked,
“Now who would win in a fight? Because Ben, when you took your top off at the start of the show for no reason… Geez, you’re ripped up.”
Brendan Fevola, Radio Host
Matt Damon, 55, responded with laughter, prompting Affleck to reply in kind, explaining there was a purpose behind the scene.
“There was a reason! I want people to see it. I don’t go to the gym for nothing,”
Affleck said, adding,
“I’m middle-aged, I’ll take all the…you know. It’s going away. I want it memorialized before it’s gone.”
Ben Affleck, Actor
Damon speculated the real motivation was typical actor vanity, highlighting the humor between the longtime collaborators as they continued to discuss the scene. Later in the day, during an appearance on Entertainment Tonight, Damon playfully described the effort behind filming the shirtless moment.
“He changed his shirt for a scene in this movie and boy, did they tweak the lighting for a long time on that bathroom, just shadows, just getting everything just perfect for him,”
Matt Damon, Actor
Affleck responded with a wink toward the scene’s importance, saying,
“I think it was important to see the character change. I think that’s what made the part dramatically interesting there was that he had a shirt that was dirty and then he had to put a clean one on.”
Ben Affleck, Actor
Damon shot back with sarcasm,
“Makes total sense in the middle of the day.”
Matt Damon, Actor
Differences in Preparation and Diets for Their Physiques
Despite their friendship and similar movie roles showing off toned bodies, Affleck revealed he and Damon took different approaches to getting fit. Damon had adopted a strict gluten-free diet for his upcoming project, The Odyssey, but Affleck confessed he couldn’t follow the same regimen.
“To be honest, I can’t do the gluten-free thing. I feel like the one thing I can’t live without is bread, like rolls, you know? Maybe it just makes me a caveman but that’s really hard,”
Ben Affleck, Actor
Decades-Long Friendship and Professional Respect Between Affleck and Damon
Despite frequent teasing, the actors share a deep bond formed over decades, growing up together and collaborating on numerous projects. At the January 13 premiere of The Rip in New York, they reflected on their ongoing connection and mutual respect.
Affleck joked,
“I keep relearning things about Matt that I already knew and I forget them,”
before praising his friend seriously,
“Honestly, I am continually reminded of what a good father he is and what a fabulous actor he is.”
Ben Affleck, Actor
He further expressed the joy of navigating their careers side by side, saying,
“You’re really lucky if you can do this for a living, and you’re exceptionally lucky if you can do it with people you love and care about.”
Ben Affleck, Actor
Significance of the Shirtless Scene and Their Collaborative Dynamic
The discussion surrounding the Ben Affleck shirtless scene highlights the humor and camaraderie between two well-established actors who continue to support each other both professionally and personally. Their friendly banter over minor scene details underlines their comfortable partnership, while their contrasting approaches to fitness reveal individuality within their collaboration.
Their shared appearances and mutual respect suggest that both will remain influential figures in Hollywood, with audiences eager to see the dynamic they bring to future projects together.
