Spielberg ‘Blacklisted’ Ben Affleck After Shocking Pool Party Incident Involving Gwyneth Paltrow”
Steven Spielberg is said to have quietly shut the door on a potential collaboration with Ben Affleck following an uncomfortable social encounter that allegedly took place more than two decades ago — an incident that has now resurfaced in Hollywood gossip circles.
The claim was made by filmmaker Mike Binder during a recent appearance on Stephen Baldwin’s One Bad Movie podcast, where Binder reflected on behind-the-scenes moments from the early 2000s that, according to him, altered the course of a major studio project. Binder suggested that a personal issue involving Affleck may have influenced Spielberg’s decision to step away from working with the actor altogether.
Binder, now 67, explained that the situation unfolded while he was developing the film Man About Town, a dramedy that eventually starred Affleck and was released in 2006. At the time, Binder said the project was gaining serious momentum, with Spielberg — already one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood — reportedly showing interest in directing the film himself.
According to Binder, that interest evaporated suddenly. He alleged that Spielberg, now 79, had developed a lingering resentment toward Affleck stemming from what he described as an awkward poolside encounter at a party years earlier. While Binder did not claim firsthand involvement in the incident, he recounted hearing that the situation involved one of Spielberg’s children and Affleck’s then-girlfriend, actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Binder emphasized that the alleged moment was not public knowledge at the time and was never formally addressed, but he claimed it nonetheless left a lasting impression on Spielberg. As a result, Binder suggested, the legendary director chose to distance himself from Affleck professionally, effectively ending any chance of collaboration on Man About Town.
The film ultimately moved forward without Spielberg’s involvement, with Binder himself taking on directing duties. Though Man About Town featured a notable cast and received moderate attention upon release, it never became the high-profile project it might have been under Spielberg’s direction.
Neither Spielberg nor Affleck has publicly commented on Binder’s remarks, and no independent confirmation of the alleged incident has emerged. Representatives for both men have remained silent, leaving the story firmly in the realm of unverified Hollywood lore.
Affleck, meanwhile, went on to build a successful career both in front of and behind the camera, earning critical acclaim and major awards in the years that followed. Spielberg has continued to work with a wide range of actors across generations, further fueling speculation that the reported fallout — if it occurred — was highly personal rather than professional.
