Ben Affleck Says Food Poisoning During Emotional Armageddon Scene

Movieweb reports Ben Affleck has said he had food poisoning while filming a tearful scene opposite Bruce Willis in 1998's Armageddon.

Affleck told Jake Hamilton in a recent interview that he "wasn't an experienced enough actor" at the time, which kept him from calling in sick, and that "When we shot that scene, I had food poisoning." He said the production kept a garbage can between takes and that he was continually vomiting while filming, later quipping, "And it probably made the scene better," a remark that prompted laughter from him and costar Matt Damon.

Affleck's disclosures add to the film's long legacy: his Armageddon DVD commentary went viral after he recounted director Michael Bay telling him to "Shut the f**k up" when he questioned plot points. The disaster epic—noted for early-era "Bayhem"—earned $553 million worldwide and has been used by NASA scientists to highlight inaccuracies. Fans now have a new perspective on one of the film's emotional moments, based on Affleck's account.

Key Topics

Culture, Ben Affleck, Armageddon, Bruce Willis, Michael Bay, Matt Damon