Steven Spielberg Shunned Ben Affleck After Pool Incident With Son, Colleague Says

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Steven Spielberg: Splash Down … I Won’t Work W/Affleck After My Son’s Pool Scuffle!!!

Published on December 23, 2025 at 6:53 AM PST

Steven Spielberg has made it clear that he is not a fan of Ben Affleck and has even gone as far as refusing to work with the actor after an incident involving Spielberg’s child, as revealed by filmmaker Mike Binder.

Binder, who shared this shocking revelation on Stephen Baldwin’s podcast, “One Bad Movie,” explained that the tension between Spielberg and Affleck began when Spielberg approached Binder to collaborate on a movie called “Man About Town.” Spielberg, who was interested in directing the film himself, had struck a deal with Binder with a handshake. However, things took a turn for the worse when Affleck signed on as the star.

According to Binder, Spielberg cited Affleck’s recent film with J Lo, presumably “Gigli” in 2003, which had bombed at the box office, as a reason for not wanting to work with the actor. But the real reason behind Spielberg’s refusal to collaborate with Affleck was a more personal one, stemming from a pool incident involving his son and Affleck.

In a shocking revelation, Binder shared that Spielberg recounted an incident where Affleck was with Spielberg’s goddaughter Gwyneth Paltrow, who he was dating at the time, on a family trip to Spain. Spielberg’s son was playing in the pool when Affleck, fully clothed, was pushed in by the boy. In a fit of rage, Affleck picked up the young boy and threw him back into the pool, causing him to cry.

This incident was a deal-breaker for Spielberg, who ultimately decided not to work with Affleck on Binder’s project. Despite Spielberg not producing the film, Binder went on to direct it, with Affleck in the lead role. However, the film turned out to be a total flop and went straight to DVD.

The rift between Spielberg and Affleck serves as a reminder of how personal conflicts can impact professional collaborations in Hollywood. While Spielberg remains a legendary director with an impressive body of work, his refusal to work with Affleck highlights the importance of maintaining professional relationships in the industry.