Oh the Ups and Downs of gambling…
Ahem.
AHEM.
I mean, if that wasn’t obvious enough. And if it was obvious, you should not be surprised about what happened to Ben Affleck in Vegas last week. He was at the Hard Rock playing blackjack, allegedly counting cards. The casino busted him and has reportedly banned him from gaming. Counting cards is not technically illegal but it’s definitely not condoned. If he wasn’t Ben Affleck, movie star and director, he would have had his ass beat in an alley. Now the media outlets are following up with stories about why he got caught. It’s because he’s “too good”. Like there’s some way to spin a positive out of this.
There is no positive.
But there are certainly triggers.
Affleck was apparently there to spend a “romantic getaway” with his wife Jennifer Garner before he begins shooting Batman vs Superman in Detroit. In Vegas? I go to Vegas all the time. AND I gamble in Vegas all the time. It’s not romantic. In fact, it’s the opposite. We don’t talk to each other when I’m gambling. That time is all for me.
You know who understands this really well?
Jennifer Lopez.
This was one of the problems between them. This has been one of Ben’s problems, always.
It’s the rush.
It’s the rush of gambling. The ups and downs of gambling. It’s the rush of…other things. The ups and downs of other things. Again, those triggers. For a dude who’s been to rehab (why is it that people always forget about this?), certain habits go together, side by side.
"Ben makes life tough for himself. He's got a lot of complication, and you know, he really is a great guy. So I hope he sorts himself out."
Pop Gossip Quiz – who said that?
It was Gwyneth Paltrow. And she was exactly right. Affleck is his own worst enemy, susceptible to everything that’s “MORE” and dangerous about fame and Hollywood. It wasn’t enough directing an Oscar-winning picture. He had to become a successful superhero to make up for Daredevil and he desperately wants recognition for acting. It’s not enough, family stability and industry respect. So we find ourselves back in that Affleck cycle. A comeback and a summit followed a drop. Rock bottom? And then he gets to start all over.
Finally I leave you with this, one of my favourite shots of all time from the era of Bennifer. Look at her face!
May 5, 2014 at 7:41 AM
His ups and downs
