Ben Affleck recently shared his experience of the “massive embarrassment” he felt after receiving a significant snub at the Oscars in 2013. The actor and director appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on January 5, 2024, where he recounted the moment he discovered he had not been nominated for Best Director for his acclaimed film, *Argo*, despite the movie winning the Academy Award for Best Picture that year.
Affleck, now 53, reflected on the anticipation leading up to the nominations. “It was the year, the horrible thing of everyone telling you, ‘You’re gonna get nominated,'” he said. He described waking up on nomination day to the disheartening news, stating, “All of a sudden, it’s a massive embarrassment. I woke up and people were saying, ‘You didn’t get nominated.’”
During the interview, Kimmel expressed sympathy for Affleck, noting the irony of being celebrated for acting and producing in *Argo*, while being overlooked for directing. Kimmel humorously connected Affleck’s situation to that of actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who lost the Best Actor prize to Timothée Chalamet at the Critics’ Choice Awards just the night before. “I was thinking, boy, he’s got so many better places to be,” Kimmel joked, highlighting the absurdity of award show snubs.
The *Critics’ Choice Awards* took on a significant role in Affleck’s narrative. On the same day he faced the Oscars snub, he attended the Critics’ Choice Awards and encountered a barrage of questions from reporters regarding the omission. “It seemed like there were 500 people dying to talk to me,” he recalled. “And every single one of them, ‘Hi. So, the snub.’ What do you say to that?”
Despite the awkwardness of that day, Affleck ultimately found success at the Critics’ Choice Awards, winning the Best Director accolade and overcoming competition from renowned filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Kathryn Bigelow. “This negative event turns into a positive,” Affleck remarked, expressing gratitude for the recognition.
In a light-hearted moment, Affleck read a sarcastic note from his longtime collaborator, Matt Damon. Damon quipped, “You should have gotten canceled a long time ago. Maybe you would have gotten sympathy then so you could have won more than one minor movie award.” This humorous exchange provided a glimpse into the camaraderie between the two actors.
Kimmel’s show had faced its own controversies recently, as it was briefly pulled from the air in September 2023 due to backlash over Kimmel’s comments regarding the murder of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. While accepting an award at the Critics’ Choice event, Kimmel thanked the writers, actors, and producers who supported him and emphasized the importance of free speech in the industry.
As Affleck promotes his upcoming film, *The Rip*, in which he stars alongside Damon, he continues to navigate the complexities of Hollywood recognition. The film is based on true events involving a Miami police unit and promises to deliver a gripping narrative.
Through this experience, Affleck has shown resilience and humor, reminding audiences that while the world of awards can be unpredictable, there are always opportunities for redemption and success.
