Why did Spielberg refuse to work with Affleck?

A Hollywood Grudge Born by the Pool

In Hollywood, rivalries often stem from box office battles or creative differences, but the rift between Steven Spielberg and Ben Affleck traces back to a surprisingly personal incident. According to filmmaker Mike Binder, the tension originated during a family vacation in the late 1990s, when Affleck was dating Spielberg’s goddaughter, Gwyneth Paltrow.

As the story goes, Spielberg’s young son pushed a fully clothed Affleck into the swimming pool as a joke. Rather than brushing it off, a furious Affleck climbed out, picked up the young boy, and threw him right back into the water, leaving the child in tears. Spielberg never quite forgave the actor for the reaction.

Years later, when Binder was assembling the cast for the 2006 film Man About Town, he attempted to recruit Affleck for the lead. Spielberg, whose production company DreamWorks was attached to the project, quickly put his foot down. Beyond citing concerns over Affleck’s recent box-office slumps and high-profile tabloid exposure, the legendary director made it clear that he simply had no desire to collaborate with him.

When the casting deal collapsed, Affleck immediately suspected the real reason, calling Binder to ask if the poolside confrontation had sealed his fate. Fortunately, time seems to have smoothed over the friction. After Affleck’s Argo claimed Best Picture over Spielberg’s Lincoln at the 2013 Academy Awards, the two were seen sharing a warm embrace—proving that even the most legendary Hollywood grudges can eventually become water under the bridge.