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Ben Affleck has been in the news lately for his reunion with his ex-wife, Jennifer Lopez, as they exchanged their wedding vows for the second time in August 2022. He seems to enjoy his life to the fullest in the new chapter of his life.
Ben has been a controversial king for many reasons. Professionally, Ben Affleck has made his mark in acting, writing, directing, and producing movies. The versatile actor shot to stardom with his films Dazed and Confused, Mallrats, Good Will Hunting, Gone Girl, The Tender Bar, and many more. It doesn't appear that there's been any complaint made by any co-actor or director about his professional attitude. But a tiff between Affleck and David Fincher, the director of Gone Girl, over a Yankees hat during the film's production caused a stir.
It was reported that Ben’s refusal to wear a Yankees hat in Gone Girl created a disagreement between him and the director. In one of the virtual interactions between the two in 2021, the two were seen laughing and joking. This proved that they did not sever ties with one another. However, as per the report, Ben Affleck’s refusal to wear the Yankees hat for the film Gone Girl shut down the production for four days in 2014.
Why Did Ben Affleck Refuse To Wear A New York Yankees Hat?
It all started when Ben was asked to wear a baseball hat in a scene at the airport for the movie Gone Girl. This was for the character Nick Dunne played by Ben, to avoid being recognized. David Fincher wanted Ben to wear a Yankees Hat.
In an interview with Times, Ben was quoted saying, “I said, ‘David, I love you, I would do anything for you, but I will not wear a Yankees hat. I just can’t. I can’t wear it because it’s going to become a thing, David. I will never hear the end of it. I can’t do it.’ And I couldn’t put it on my head.”
Ben Affleck, known as one of the die-hard fans of the Red Sox, was not ready to put on their rival’s hat even for a few seconds. He stood firm on his decision. So did David Fincher.
How Ben Affleck Affected The Production Of Gone Girl
Following the argument between Ben and David, the communication between the two stopped. The production of the movie was shut down for four days. One can imagine the loss the production unit suffered because of the so-call “legitimate fight,” as termed by Ben Affleck.
Most people are well aware of the fact that the production of a movie costs a bomb. So, you might think that how Ben being a producer himself, could not anticipate how much his decision would cost the movie.
What Hat Did Ben Affleck Wear In Gone Girl?
Ben was not in favor or in the mood to compromise as he seemed too dedicated to his Red Sox team. People do get to see his appearances on the field sometimes with his co-star or girlfriend. Therefore, he continued his,” “one-man riot against the Yankees.”
The whole situation was settled after four days, and Mets hat came to rescue the production and direction team. In one of his interviews with The New York Times, Ben stated, “That was the only fight David and I had, and it was a legitimate fight.”
However, David did not seem happy with the decision and called the stunt “utterly unprofessional” in the movie’s DVD commentary.
Did Ben Affleck Do The Right Thing By Not Wearing The New York Yankees Hat?
Many people think that Ben was right on his part for not going ahead with the director's demands. He was thinking clearly and seeing things beyond the movie. His lifelong dedication to his team would have been questionable. Besides, his integrity would have been questioned as well.
Moreover, Ben knew that the internet would have been on fire with the topic, and negative publicity spread faster than a positive one. The Major League Baseball (MLB) rivalry has been there for a long, and it is hard to overlook that. The decision made Red Sox and Bostonians happy, including the actor himself. Even his fans are not complaining.
Many even think his character in Gone Girl fits the hat of the Mets better than the Yankee cap. The hat did not make much difference in the scene or the whole movie, but what did make a difference was that someone could challenge the director. Media attention aside, both Ben Affleck and director David Fincher appear to have moved on.