Ben Affleck Expresses Disillusionment with Politics, Rules Out Public Office

Actor Ben Affleck has stated he has no interest in pursuing a career in public office, citing deep disillusionment with the political landscape.

In a recent interview with Variety, Affleck described politics as a "terrible" and "tawdry" world, which holds no appeal for him. He elaborated that the political arena often highlights the disparity between ideals and reality, contributing to his negative perception.

"I just think that’s enormously — I don’t know, man, that seems terrible," Affleck told the outlet while promoting his new movie, "Animals," in which he portrays a candidate for L.A. mayor. "There’s a reason why political stories are often chosen as parables for moral compromise. You really get thrust up into the contrast between the ideal version of us and how we should be in our lives and the way it is."

Affleck, 54, expressed a belief that the collective standards for politics have lowered significantly, leading to a public desire for straightforwardness. "Somebody shoot me straight," he remarked.

He also declined to endorse any candidate in the upcoming Los Angeles mayoral election, expressing uncertainty about whether his endorsement would help or harm a candidate, especially given his role in the film. "I should stay agnostic, at least until the movie comes out," he said.

Discussing the current state of politics, Affleck told "Good Morning America" that both Democrats and Republicans seem to feel the system is failing them. "We have a system that’s kind of failing us," he stated.

His experience playing a mayoral candidate in "Animals" provided him with a firsthand impression of the demands of political campaigns. "This is not all that much fun. And it would be a hard way — you’re just raising money all the time," he noted.

Affleck recounted a humorous incident where he and a castmate considered venturing out in Los Angeles wearing campaign merchandise for his character to see public reaction. He found that people were engaged, and he jokingly warned viewers not to vote for him, saying, "If I’m not careful, I’m going to win this."

In an interview with USA Today, Affleck called holding public office an "awful job" and reiterated his disillusionment with the political system. "I’d be flattered, except I think there’s such a low bar in politics these days," he responded when told his campaign ad in the movie was effective.

Affleck explained that "Animals" explores the moral compromises individuals make when faced with personal stakes. He questioned whether humans are inherently self-seeking and construct narratives to justify their actions, or if a higher self compels adherence to moral codes despite potential costs.

While Affleck has a history of political engagement, having campaigned for figures like Al Gore and Barack Obama, he stated he is now "averse" to politics due to extensive exposure to "hypocrisy, corruption and failure."

"The way it's constructed now is so geared around money, sound bites, cruelties and gotchas, and little snarky things that really have nothing to do with people's lives whatsoever," he said. "And increasingly, it's easier to get votes appealing to the worst in people than it is appealing to the best in them. If you're telling a story about kind of morality and compromise, there are lots of pressures that are constantly asking you to sacrifice your principles."