Being a celebrity has its fair share of ups and downs. While many people are finally able to live the life they always wanted and pursue their dreams, they are sometimes forced to deal with a constant lack of privacy and constant annoyance from the paparazzi. Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have both had extremely successful lives in the entertainment industry, as they have both starred in several box office hits. 

Their private lives have been broadcast to the world just as much as their professional lives have. Many people have been able to watch the couple’s love flourish, see their family grow up, and then watch the couple’s relationship fall apart all while still in the public eye.

Garner and Affleck first fell in love back in 2004 and were married the following year. Since then, they have had two daughters and one son together. While their family is absolutely beautiful, there were many problems behind the scenes, resulting in Garner and Affleck announcing their separation in 2015 after 10 years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized in 2018.

Both Garner and Affleck are still pivotal talking points in the media, albeit separately now, as they have both moved on in their personal lives. However, Garner has continued to mention just how difficult it is raising a family in the public eye, and what it was like to go through such a heavily publicized relationship with Affleck. The actress recently explained just how challenging it really was to raise her children while being under constant surveillance by the paparazzi.

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Ben Affleck , Jennifer Garner (2014), (Jeff Vespa/VF14/WireImage/Getty images)

Garner found her first wave of success from the ABC television series “Alias,” which aired from 2001 until 2006. During this time, she also began to make a real name for herself in the industry by starring in a variety of highly successful films, including “13 Going On 30,” “Daredevil” and “Elektra.” She had formed a friendship with Affleck during their time together while filming “Pearl Harbor” in 2001 and “Daredevil” in 2003, before beginning their romantic relationship shortly after. Affleck is most famous for his roles in “Good Will Hunting,” “Gigli” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Together Garner and Affleck have three children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

Being extremely successful actors and in an incredibly popular relationship made Garner and Affleck the perfect candidates for being targets of the paparazzi. “It’s startling to become recognizable,” Garner explained during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning in June 2018. Garner continued, and explained just how hard it was balancing life as a mother and dealing with the constant gaze of the media. “In the morning, you can either be making breakfast for your kids, making their lunch boxes, or you can be getting paparazzi-ready,” the actress said. “And so, I know which way I’m going to go.”

During an interview with PBS in October 2020, Garner opened up about what it was like dealing with the paparazzi on a daily basis while trying to raise her children and work on her relationship with Affleck. Garner revealed that no matter what she was doing or where she was going, there was always paparazzi there following her and her children.

The actress also opened up about how it was difficult for her and Affleck to maintain a healthy relationship as a famous couple under the constant surveillance of the paparazzi and general public. “For 10 years there were at the very least six cars, and often 20, outside of our house, and outside of school and at the pediatrician’s,” Garner said. “And you’re begging them, ‘Please step aside from the pediatrician’s door. I have a sick kid, please.’”

Garner went on to explain that “it just got to be ridiculous” the way that the paparazzi treated her and her children, as they had even caused multiple car accidents just trying to get pictures and videos of the famous family. “Anywhere that we went, it was a total circus,” Garner revealed.

The constant swarm of cameras and lack of privacy and personal space eventually got to be too much for the family, leading to Garner teaming up with actress Halle Berry in a lawsuit to help protect their children from the incessant nature of the paparazzi. The Los Angeles Times reported that both actresses testified in front of the California state government to lobby for legislation that would protect their kids. The law eventually was passed, resulting in a difference in the way the media handled celebrities’ children.

While being a celebrity has its ups and downs, Garner has managed to handle everything thrown at her with grace and humility. The star has continued to work on keeping as much of her life private as possible while raising her children under constant public scrutiny.

What do you think about Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s personal lives being so highly publicized? What do you think about the way the paparazzi treats children in the spotlight? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.