The two stars appeared together on The Howard Stern Show on January 12. During the conversation, host Howard Stern asked Damon whether he had stood by Affleck through his personal struggles, including two divorces and multiple stints in rehab.

“Of course,” Damon replied. “Our relationship isn’t affected by what other people say. I was there through all of it.”

Affleck was visibly moved by his longtime friend’s words, saying: “That means so much to me. That’s what a real friend is.”

Affleck divorced actress Jennifer Garner in 2015, around the same time he publicly confirmed completing a course of treatment for alcohol addiction. In 2018, he entered a rehabilitation facility again, spending 40 days there. Four years later, Affleck reunited with and married singer Jennifer Lopez, but the marriage ended after just two years. During that period, Damon was frequently seen dining with Affleck and was also spotted offering support to Lopez at public events.

Damon, 55, and Affleck, 53, have been close friends since childhood, having grown up together in Boston. Stern likened their bond to “a great love story” and called it “true love.” Affleck agreed, noting that their Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting, which they made together early in their careers, was rooted in that same kind of deep connection.

“Profound friendships with people you grow up with can really last a lifetime,” Affleck said. He added that even in high school, they understood the value of pure friendship and how it helped shape who they would become.

Reflecting on their Hollywood careers, Damon said he and Affleck had “hit the lottery together.” Affleck, meanwhile, credited their friendship with keeping both of them grounded amid fame and success. “When you’re both famous, you have someone you can talk to and ask, ‘Is this insane?’ or remind each other, ‘Hey, what the hell are you doing?’” he said.

Having known each other for nearly four decades, Damon and Affleck are not only best friends but also long-standing creative partners. Their major breakthrough came in 1997, when Good Will Hunting—which they co-wrote and starred in—won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. In the years that followed, despite pursuing separate paths, they continued to collaborate. In 2022, they co-founded the production company Artists Equity. Their upcoming film The Rip will mark their third collaboration in five years, following The Last Duel and Air.