Ben Affleck Awkwardly Stood Solo for 7 Minutes Onstage at Spider Woman Premiere Before Director Noticed Him

Ben Affleck rolled out his latest project with a minor snafu that made for a funny moment at its premiere.

The actor-producer, 53, had an awkward moment onstage at the New York City premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman held at The Shed on Monday, Oct 6.

Affleck, who produced the musical that stars his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez, walked the red carpet before being ushered into the theater with the rest of the attendees. Inside, he stepped to the front of the theater where director Bill Condon was making an introduction speech.

The Artists Equity co-founder then stood behind Condon by himself for over seven minutes as the filmmaker delivered his remarks.

The actor had walked in front of the audience holding a can of Diet Coke, which he eventually placed on the ground. He waited with his hands intertwined in front of him while Condon shouted out the movie’s producers, stars and composer John Kander. 

After minutes passed, Condon turned around and noticed Affleck. “I didn’t know you were there,” he said with surprise, before walking toward Affleck and giving him a hug. 

The filmmaker wrapped his speech, then introduced Lopez and her costar Tonatiuh to join them. Affleck, who remained in good spirits throughout, delivered remarks to the audience after the two actors. 

“I’m humbled and honored to be standing up here,” he said. “I won’t talk for very long, except to say that when we started Artists Equity, my principal goal was to empower great artists, tell moving stories, create opportunities for these kinds of great stories to be told, and work with the best directors in the world and the best actors and the best material.”

“In this movie we did all of that, and it’s an honor to be here. This movie is exquisite,” Affleck continued.

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He then spoke directly to his colleagues, saying, “Jennifer, you’re incredible. Bill, you did an amazing job. Tonatiuh, you’re phenomenal. Welcome to a lifelong stardom. Enjoy it. There’s ups and downs. But here you are.”

“It’s really, truly a thrill and honor. I’m as proud of this movie as any. Thank you for letting me be part [of it],” he concluded. 

Affleck produced the movie under his and Matt Damon’s Artist Equity production company, while Lopez also produced under her banner Nuyorican Productions.

At the premiere, Affleck and Lopez posed together to celebrate the upcoming release. Photos captured the friendly exes chatting with each other on the carpet. 

During Lopez’s introduction ahead of the film, she thanked Affleck. “Thank you so much. Thank you everybody for being here tonight. Thank you, Ben. This movie wouldn’t have been made without Ben and without Artist Equity,” she said.

Kiss of the Spider Woman first premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The movie is a reimagining of the stage musical from Kander, Ebb and Terrence McNally that first starred Chita Rivera on Broadway in 1993. It also draws inspiration from the 1985 film starring William Hurt, Raul Julia and Sônia Braga; all are adapted from Argentine writer Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel.

Written and directed by Condon, known for his work on the Dreamgirls and Chicago movie adaptations, Lopez stars alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh as a “silver screen diva” named Ingrid Luna. 

Kiss of the Spider Woman is in theaters Oct. 10.