Summary: Ben Affleck and Hilarie Burton stirred up a lot of controversy and rumors in October 2017 after they had an uncomfortable and awkward groping incident on MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL). Here are five things to know about the incident.
1. The Incident Itself
The incident occurred during an episode of TRL, where Burton was serving as one of the show’s hosts. Affleck appeared as a guest on the show, and during his interview, he hugged Burton from behind and proceeded to grope her breasts. This made Burton visibly uncomfortable, and she quickly pulled away from Affleck.
The entire incident was caught on camera, and the video quickly went viral. People all over social media were outraged at Affleck’s behavior and called him out for his inappropriate actions.
Affleck apologized for the incident on Twitter, saying that he was “sorry for acting inappropriately towards Ms. Burton,” but many people criticized his apology for not being sincere enough.
2. Burton’s Response
After the video of the incident went viral, Burton took to social media to share her own thoughts on the matter. She tweeted, “I didn’t forget,” which many people interpreted as a reference to Affleck’s apology and his claim that he didn’t remember the incident.
Burton also shared a link to a video where she talked openly about the incident and how it made her feel. In the video, she said that she was embarrassed and felt like she had to laugh off the incident because she was on live television.
She also spoke about how common this type of behavior is in the entertainment industry and how important it is to hold people accountable for their actions.
3. The Backlash Against Affleck
The incident sparked a lot of backlash against Affleck, with many people calling for him to be “canceled” and not supported in any of his future projects. Some people even called for the release of a “secret list” of men in Hollywood who have been accused of sexual harassment or assault.
Affleck has a history of a problematic behavior, including a sexual harassment lawsuit from a female colleague on the movie set in 2010, which he settled out of court, and many people have criticized him for not making a genuine effort to change his behavior after that incident.
There have also been rumors that Affleck’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, is upset with him over the TRL incident and his general behavior since their divorce.
4. The Impact on the Me Too Movement
The TRL incident happened at the height of the Me Too movement, which was a campaign to raise awareness of sexual harassment and assault. The movement gained momentum in late 2017 after the allegations against Harvey Weinstein came to light.
The Ben Affleck-Hilarie Burton incident served as an example of the kind of behavior that the Me Too movement was trying to combat. It also highlighted how common this behavior is in the entertainment industry and how important it is to hold powerful people accountable for their actions.
The incident also sparked a conversation about men’s role in the Me Too movement and how they can be better allies to women who are speaking out about their experiences with sexual harassment and assault.
5. The Aftermath
After the incident, both Affleck and Burton moved on with their lives. Burton continued to work as a host on TRL and became a vocal advocate for the Me Too movement. She also went on to star in the TV show “White Collar” and the movie “The List.”
Affleck continued to act in movies and was most recently seen in “The Way Back” and “Justice League.” He has not publicly commented on the TRL incident since his apology on Twitter. However, many people continue to criticize him for his problematic behavior and lack of accountability.
Conclusion:
The Ben Affleck-Hilarie Burton incident was a perfect example of the kind of behavior that the Me Too movement is trying to combat. It’s clear that Hollywood has a long way to go when it comes to creating safe working environments for women, and incidents like this one serve as a reminder of how important it is to hold powerful people accountable for their actions.
Moving forward, it’s important for everyone to listen to women and other marginalized voices and to believe them when they come forward with stories of harassment and assault. It’s only through this kind of honest and open conversation that we can make real progress in creating a more just and equitable society for everyone.
