Every Mets Fan Can Appreciate Ben Affleck Refusing To Wear A Yankees Hat

by Tim Reilly March 23, 2021

Ben Affleck is one of the biggest celebrity Boston sports fans around. Ever since Matt Damon and himself crushed it with "Good Will Hunting," they've become synonymous with Boston sports fans. It's not unusual to see Affleck in the crowd at a Red Sox, Patriots or Celtics game. Even when he's photographed by paparazzi he's commonly seen rocking Boston sports swag.

This is the opening scene in Good Will Hunting II pic.twitter.com/3KFgKMzPEe
— Tim Reilly (@LifeOfTimReilly) December 31, 2020

I've become a big fan of Affleck photos as he struggles to balance life and his Dunkin' Donuts order. Don't ask why, but I look forward to it when any of these photos hit the internet. Today, I'm scrolling through Twitter and came across a different kind of viral Affleck content. While filming "Gone Girl," there was a big dilemma on the hat Affleck would wear in one scene.

good lord Ben Affleck is my absolute favorite Boston idiot, and what’s more is I think he was completely right to do this pic.twitter.com/AKDRT3hEjq
— Isaac Feldberg (@isaacfeldberg) March 23, 2021

In an attempt to stay low during a crucial scene, the script called for his character to wear a black Yankees hat as he walked among a crowd with his head down. The problem? Affleck is a real Red Sox fan. This isn't a Hollywood act. He's true to his roots. No chance in hell a real Red Sox fan would wear a Yankees cap. He stuck to his convictions so much so that he shut down shooting for FOUR DAYS to work this out. FOUR DAYS!

An agreement was finally made that Affleck would wear a Mets cap instead as a happy medium. I remember spotting this in the movie some years back but frankly didn't think much of it other than there's a Mets cap in a movie. It's not like I really thought Affleck was a Mets fan.

I would have been taken back if I saw him in Yankees swag though. I'd feel the same way if I saw Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin James, Chris Rock or some other celebrity Mets fan wearing something other than Mets gear.

The director, David Fincher, later made this story public and called Affleck "unprofessional" for his refusal to wear a Yankees caps. F--- that. ALWAYS stay true to your convictions. I'm even more of an Affleck guy now.

There's always been a bond between Mets and Red Sox fans. We both know what it's like to despise everything about the Yankees organization. Once the Red Sox put the curse of the Bambino behind them, they also put the Buckner nightmare behind them. Mets fans and Red Sox fans were truly united with few remaining hard feelings. But there will always be a shared Yankees hatred that brings us together.

Mets and Red Sox fans chanting "Yankees suck" in unison IS WHY I LOVE SPORTS SO MUCH pic.twitter.com/baVE5mTPzd
— Shannon (@Miss_Met) September 15, 2018

It's hard to find a moment purer at a baseball game than The 7 Line Army and Red Sox faithful uniting for a "Yankees Suck" chant at Fenway Park back in 2018. The only thing that would've made that moment better is if Affleck was in the stands that day. You can wear a Mets cap anytime a character calls for it, Ben. Real respects real.

If I ever make it big in Hollywood, don't even think about asking me to wear a Yankees, Braves, Phillies, Nationals or Cardinals hat. That's my list that would cause the set to shutdown.