Ben Affleck Once Reacted to Accusations against Him after His Act in 2000s toward Hilary Burton

Ben Affleck is one of Hollywood's most famous actors whose life has hit the headlines several times. One of these times was in the early 2000s when he was accused of inappropriately touching an actress.

Ben Affleck is one of Hollywood's most popular actors for several reasons. Aside from featuring in a series of high-ranking movies, his looks, charms, and relationship status have also spotlighted him.

Affleck's personal life has been well-publicized since he became a regular in the industry. In the early 2000s, the actor was involved with some of Hollywood's most prolific stars, including a failed engagement to singer and beauty queen Jennifer Lopez.

Their romance dominated the headlines for years, but their split would go on to generate further publicity. Affleck would tie the knot with another screen actress, Jennifer Garner, who he split from years later.

Although the early 2000s were good years for the actor, it was also a time he was involved in a scandal that seemed not to have mattered until a decade later when he was called out for touching an actress inappropriately on TV. Here's what happened.

THE SCANDAL

Affleck got his big break after featuring in Harvey Weinstein's Miramax film "Good Will Hunting." Still, when Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct, Affleck was among the many voices that expressed disappointment at the situation.

In a post he shared on Facebook, Affleck wrote that he was disappointed that a man he worked with for several decades used his position and power to abuse women.

His comment came after actors like George Clooney, Colin Firth, Mark Ruffalo, director Kevin Smith, and Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda reacted to the allegations against the famous producer.

While Affleck expressed his opinion, some fans reminded him of a past occurrence during a 2003 episode of MTV's "TRL," hosted by actress Hilarie Burton.

The actor was accused of making Burton uncomfortable during the show by touching her inappropriately, while others reminded him not to throw stones while living in a glass house.

One fan insinuated that the incident had long been forgotten. Still, in a post, Burton noted that she had not forgotten the ugly moment, noting her shock at Affleck's action and adding that she was only a kid when it happened.

At the time the event happened in 2003, Burton was 21-years-old. The actress later shared a link to a supercut of highlights from the series, capturing the moment the said act occurred.

Affleck's camp was silent on the accusation, but the actor took the bold step to apologize to Burton on his Twitter page. He wrote, "I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton, and I sincerely apologize."

While Affleck had maintained his ignorance over his former boss's inappropriate behaviors, actress Rose McGowan called the "The Last Duet" star out, noting that he had been aware of Weinstein's alleged behavior.

Weinstein had previously reached a $100,000 settlement with McGowan in 1997 after an episode in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival. She claimed Affleck was fully aware of Weinstein's acts and was not as ignorant as he claimed.

Affleck, one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, was later accused by makeup artist Annamarie Tendler of inappropriate behavior during a party in 2014.

THE HARVEY WEINSTEIN SAGA

As women and other victims worldwide became bold in expressing their truth about uncomfortable acts towards them, legendary producer Harvey Weinstein was one of the first to be charged to court over indecent acts.

Actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd were among the women who came forward to give a clear picture of how the producer coerced them into sexual acts, using his status as an icon in the industry to intimidate them.

According to them, in return for sexual favors, Weinstein promised to advance their careers. He allegedly coerced these women and made them perform uncomfortable acts.

Weinstein later issued a public apology and denied coercing his employees into sexual relationships with him. Later on, Weinstein was fired by the company he co-founded after he was found guilty of misconduct.

There were allegations from several stars, with more than three women accusing the movie producer of rape. Actress Asia Argento and another aspiring actress, Lucia Stoller, claimed Weinstein was sexually inappropriate with them. The incidents were said to have happened in 1997 and 2004, respectively.

Later on, actress Mira Sorvino, who featured in several of Weinstein's films, revealed that Weinstein tried to force her into a physical relationship with him.

Although Weinstein had severely denied the allegations, it peaked after A-list stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie noted their encounter with the 69-year-old in the early days of their careers.

A jury later convicted Weinstein of a felony sex crime but acquitted him of the most serious charges against him. His conviction marked a significant win for the #MeToo movement.

GLOBAL REACTION

Several world leaders reacted to the report of Weinstein's crimes, including his political allies such as Barack and Michelle Obama, whose daughter Malia had served as an intern in Weinstein's company.

In the post-Weinstein era, legions of women have felt empowered to speak out and share their own #MeToo stories on social media and in the media. Some of these victims have included A-list celebrities in various industries.

The allegations leveled against the powerful producer inspired a barrage of allegations against high-profile men in the media, politics, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood, all of which have had varying degrees of ramifications.