Affleck speaks out over sexism scandal

Ben Affleck has called for men to be more accountable as he was grilled about the scandal surrounding the man who launched his career, Harvey Weinstein.

The Oscar-winning actor was one of the first to comment on Weinstein when allegations surrounding the producer first emerged in October.

Speaking about the wider scandal since the story first broke - including his own behaviour towards women, which has been called into question - Affleck, 45, said: “I thought I had a sense of the scope of the problem and I thought I understood it, and the truth

“I didn’t understand what it’s like to be groped”

is I really didn’t. I didn’t understand what it’s like to be groped, to be harassed, to be interrupted, talked over, paid less, you know, pushed around, belittled. All the things that women deal with, that for me, as a man, I have the privilege of not having to deal with,” he said on US television.

He added: “It’s just the kind of thing we have to, as men, as we become more aware of this, be really, really mindful of our behaviour and hold ourselves accountable’.”

Affleck worked with Weinstein on Good Will Hunting, the film that kick-started his and Matt Damon’s careers, but said his association with the former Miramax boss had now been “tainted”.

Ben Affleck: ‘tainted’