Ben Affleck responds after his name surfaces in ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ drama

Ben Affleck has weighed in on a surprising reality-TV controversy after 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' cast member Lisa Barlow

By Zahra Shamil January 17, 2026
Ben Affleck responds after his name surfaces in ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ drama
Ben Affleck responds after his name surfaces in ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ drama

Ben Affleck, the Oscar-winning actor known for films like Gone Girl and The Town, has addressed a curious pop-culture moment involving Bravo’s Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

The 53-year-old star was recently asked about a comment made by cast member Lisa Barlow, who cited an event attended by “Ben and Blake”, a presumed reference to Affleck and actress Blake Lively, as the reason she skipped a Season 6 group RV trip.

During an interview promoting his new movie The Rip, Affleck was shown a photograph of Barlow and asked if he knew her. 

Though he pledged not to embarrass anyone, the actor said the Real Housewives star “doesn’t look familiar” to him and that he could not recall meeting her. 

Affleck also noted he hasn’t been to Utah, where the reality show is set, in roughly a decade, suggesting the reported event may not have involved him in the way Barlow implied.

According to Daily Mail, Affleck’s candid response put a spotlight on the growing buzz around Barlow’s actions in the Bravo series, where her relationships with fellow cast members have been a focal point of tension. 

Critics have questioned whether her explanation for missing the premiere outing, including the name-dropping of high-profile celebrities, was intended to deflect from ongoing feuds on the show.

Related: Jennifer Lopez focuses on career, leaves Ben Affleck behind