Gwyneth Paltrow recently sparked nostalgia and quiet curiosity after making a subtle reference to her ex Ben Affleck—without ever saying his name. The moment occurred during her appearance on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, where a casual discussion unexpectedly drifted into familiar Hollywood history. While the actress avoided specifics, longtime fans instantly recognized the reference.
Gwyneth Paltrow talks about Ben Affleck in rare comment without taking his name
The moment happened during Gwyneth Paltrow’s appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast interview. Poehler asked Paltrow about the late actor Robin Williams. Then Paltrow explained how she met him during the Good Will Hunting press cycle. Paltrow said she was nearby because of who she was dating at the time. The onscreen Pepper Potts said, “I only got to know him a bit when Good Will Hunting came out because I was dating one of the people who wrote that movie and was in that movie.” Poehler immediately understood the reference, even without a name, joking, “We’re well aware.”
Even so, the comment quietly revived memories of Gwyneth Paltrow and her ex Ben Affleck, who dated from 1997 to 2000. During that period, the two also collaborated professionally on Shakespeare in Love and Bounce, making their relationship one of the more creatively intertwined Hollywood pairings of the late ’90s. Since then, both stars have moved on publicly and privately, building families and careers independent of that chapter.
Later, Paltrow married Coldplay’s Chris Martin and then producer Brad Falchuk. Meanwhile, Affleck went on to marry Jennifer Garner and later Jennifer Lopez.
Paltrow’s restrained approach stood out. By choosing not to name Affleck, she maintained boundaries while still speaking honestly about her experiences.
Recently, Paltrow appeared in Marty Supreme, which is based on the life and career of American table tennis player Marty Reisman.
