Oscar winner Ben Affleck announced Tuesday that he has completed a stint in rehab for alcohol addiction, “something I’ve dealt with in the past and will continue to confront.”
Affleck, who recently stepped aside from plans to direct the next Batman film, made the announcement on Facebook. He said he wanted to set a good example for his children, and thanked their mother, actress Jennifer Garner.
“I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I’ve dealt with in the past and will continue to confront,” Affleck said. “I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.”
He added: “I’m lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do. This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.”
Affleck previously went to rehab for alcohol in 2001, when he was 28. Last June, a rambling appearance on Bill Simmons’ HBO series “Any Given Wednesday” led many online to speculate — and worry — that he might be drinking again.
Affleck won the Oscar for Best Picture for “Argo” in 2013 and for co-writing 1997’s “Good Will Hunting.”
He most recently starred in and directed “Live By Night,” and starred in last summer’s blockbuster “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
Affleck’s brother, Casey, won a Best Actor Oscar last month for his role in “Manchester by the Sea.” In an interview with NPR’s “Fresh Air” leading up to the win, he recounted how his and Ben Affleck’s father battled alcoholism when they were growing up in Massachusetts.