It's time to offer up your Red Sox 2004 commemorative beanie and "Daredevil" DVDs to the gods of love and romance because this week is a dark time. One year ago Thursday, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced that they were separating after 10 years of marriage.
“After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," their joint statement read. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter.”
Except it wasn't. Over the next year, their "family matter" would become a staple of everyday public discourse, with both Garner and Affleck weighing in in high-profile interviews. How's the weather? Do you think Ben Affleck really shtupped the nanny? Is Christine Ouzounian a feminist hero?
But when the dust settled, something happened: Garner seemed happier than ever. After living in Affleck's shadow, one she would later describe as "cold," Garner started promoting a new movie, her triumphant smile covered Vanity Fair and she became a model for how to make divorce work for you.
So, on this fateful holiday weekend, let's count the ways Garner got her groove back:
1. "Miracles From Heaven" was a legit miracle from heaven.
OK, so religious schmaltz was alive and well in this adaptation of housewife Christy Beam's memoir about how her daughter's brush with God cured a supposedly incurable disease, but Garner delivered one of the strongest performances of her career. The film also outperformed expectations at the box office, grossing a hefty $73 million worldwide on a $13 million budget.
2. She didn't shy away from how difficult divorce can be.
It’s been a "year of wine," Garner explained to Vanity Fair in her refreshingly candid interview about the split. Divorce is hard, especially in the public eye, and Garner acknowledged that, despite her cheery public image, this past year has been tough. “When I can’t sleep -- and I am not someone who typically has that problem, but I really have in the last year -- and I need something to switch my brain off, it has been Tina Fey and Amy Poehler,” she added. “God bless those girls."
3. "Batman v Superman" gave birth to sad-Affleck.
Ben Affleck might not be the one to blame for cinematic mess that is "Batman v Superman" (Heeeeey, Zack Snyder), but it certainly didn't hurt to see the actor saddled with the "Gigli" of superhero movies. The film might have raked in over $1 billion, but even Affleck knew it was bad.
4. Garner SLAYED the Oscars.
Garner walked the red carpet solo for at the 2016 Academy Awards and absolutely killed the game. Wearing a floor-length black gown, Garner stunned at the ceremony and wound up on everybody's best dressed list. And she even survived host Ricky Gervais' taunting about Affleck's rumored infidelity.
5. She didn't trash Affleck in the media.
It would have been easy for Garner to lay the blame for the marriage's failure on Affleck's shoulders. The rest of the world was doing it. But Garner took the divorce road less traveled by sparing Affleck from even more public shame. "No one needs to hate him for me. I don’t hate him," she insisted in her Vanity Fair interview. "Certainly we don’t have to beat the guy up. Don’t worry -- my eyes were wide open during the marriage."
6. Garner refused "to be the ashes."
When paparazzi snapped a photo of Ben Affleck on set sporting a giant tattoo of a phoenix rising from the ashes, everybody's midlife crisis concerns were confirmed. The tattoo turned out to be fake, but it became a symbol for the dynamic in their separation. If Affleck fashioned himself a phoenix, then what would that make Garner?
"Am I the ashes in this scenario?” Garner said.“I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.”
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.