Overview

• Ben Affleck expressed empathy for Britney Spears on Theo Von's podcast, recalling her harassment by paparazzi during challenging times.
• Affleck likened paparazzi behavior to 'poking a tiger,' creating a cycle of provocation and public misperception of celebrities' reactions.
• He clarified that his comments were speculative, as he does not personally know Spears, but were informed by his own experiences with intrusive media.
• Spears's 2007–2008 mental health struggles and subsequent conservatorship were highlighted as key periods of intense media scrutiny.
• Affleck has previously criticized paparazzi tactics, particularly their targeting of celebrities' families, underscoring the ongoing challenges of fame.