Ben Affleck discusses filming shirtless scene in ‘The Rip’

Ben Affleck is responding with humor after being teased for appearing shirtless in his upcoming movie The Rip, insisting the moment wasn’t quite as pointless as some have suggested.

During a lighthearted radio interview in Australia, Affleck addressed jokes about briefly taking his top off in the film, which also stars his longtime friend Matt Damon. When a host ribbed him for baring his chest “for no reason,” Affleck fired back playfully, saying he didn’t spend time in the gym just to keep the results hidden.

The 53-year-old actor joked that he wanted the moment “memorialized” while he still could, adding that middle age makes you appreciate fleeting perks. Damon, meanwhile, laughed along and attributed the scene to “actor vanity,” later poking fun at the careful lighting used to showcase Affleck on screen.

Affleck continued the joke in a separate interview, mockingly describing the shirt change as a key moment of character development. He also revealed that, unlike Damon, he didn’t follow a strict gluten-free diet to get in shape, admitting he couldn’t give up bread.

Despite the friendly jabs, Affleck and Damon emphasized their enduring bond, noting that decades of friendship have made working together an ongoing joy—shirtless scenes and all.