Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

AP/Press Association Images

Ben Affleck wanted to hide his slave-owning ancestor from documentary

It was for a show about his family’s past.

HOLLYWOOD MEGASTAR BEN Affleck asked documentary makers to censor their discovery that one of his ancestors owned slaves, according to a leaked email.

The message published by WikiLeaks last week is part of a trove of embarrassing emails, film scripts and other internal communications that were accessed during a massive hack of Sony in 2014.

Finding your roots

In one email exchange, Sony chief executive Michael Lynton and his friend Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates discuss a request made by Affleck that his slave-owning ancestor not be included in an upcoming show called Finding Your Roots, produced by the publicly funded PBS broadcaster.

“Here’s my dilemma,” Gates wrote. “Confidentially, for the first time, one of our guests has asked us to edit out something about one of his ancestors — the fact that he owned slaves. Now, four or five of our guests this season descend from slave owners, including Ken Burns. We’ve never had anyone ever try to censor or edit what we found. He’s a megastar. What do we do?”

In his response, Lynton advises Gates, who presents the series, to take out the information.

I would take it out if no one knows, but if it gets out that you are editing the material based on this kind of sensitivity then it gets tricky. Again, all things being equal I would definitely take it out.

Gates goes on to say that he fears censoring the show would “compromise our integrity.”

Ultimately, though, the show did not mention Affleck’s slave-owning forebear and instead focused on other ancestors including a distant grandfather who was an occult enthusiast.

Gates “and his producers made an independent editorial judgement to choose the most compelling narrative,” PBS said in a statement.

Slave owners

CNN presenter Anderson Cooper is also featured in the documentary series. One of his ancestors was a multiple slave owner — and was beaten to death with a garden hoe by a slave, who in turn was hanged without trial.

Affleck stars as Batman in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie. He is also known for supporting an array of causes including the Eastern Congo Initiative.

The Sony hacking scandal has already led to the release of other embarrassing emails, including one in which a producer labelled Angelina Jolie a “minimally talented spoiled brat” and others that included racial slurs against President Barack Obama.

- © AFP, 2015

Read: Watch Ben Affleck speak out brilliantly against Islamophobia>

Author
View 34 comments
Close
34 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Atticus the Accuser
    Favourite Atticus the Accuser
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Bit ridiculous it’s not a reflection on a person’s character what their ancestors did. I’m sure if you go back far enough in most people’s family tree, you’d get all kinds of “characters”.

    458
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute YFG Account
    Favourite YFG Account
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:01 PM

    Sometimes as recently as the 70s

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Favourite Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:20 PM

    There is a trend in America of calling for reparations from descendants of slave owners. Given his wealth he may be a target for claims, and given his political activism I can’t see how he could refuse without loosing face.

    133
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J. Dunn
    Favourite J. Dunn
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:24 PM

    When someone tries to measure you against the actions of your long gone ancestors just tell them, ‘Well, if not for the murderers and rapists in your family tree you probably wouldn’t be here today.’.

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Dunne
    Favourite Jack Dunne
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:28 PM

    Weren’t all white people potential slave owners back then

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ryan
    Favourite John Ryan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:31 PM

    What ever you do don’t mention black slave owners or the debt owed to the hundreds of thousands of white soilders who died to bring an end to slavery.

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deco James Connolly
    Favourite Deco James Connolly
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:33 PM

    Blacks owned slaves first .

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Favourite Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:53 PM

    The Aran slave trade makes for some interesting reading. 10-18 million slaves taken, about 1 million of them from Europe. Male slaves were castrated, which is why there aren’t large groups of descendants of these slaves around the middle and near East.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Favourite Jimmy Jim-Jim
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 6:42 PM

    *Arab

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Agrippa
    Favourite Agrippa
    Report
    Apr 20th 2015, 12:03 AM

    Yeah didn’t they grab over 100 people from baltimore and enslave them in Algeria

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ryan
    Favourite John Ryan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:08 PM

    When will these people ever learn that the more you try to hide this stuff the bigger it comes back to bite you in the ass.There is nothing to be ashamed about here. Ben Affleck didn’t own slaves.Its part of history and should be used to learn lessons from that god-awful period.

    I mean if he wants something to be ashamed of might I suggest Daredevil.

    218
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Ball
    Favourite Alan Ball
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:11 PM

    Sooo true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ryan
    Favourite John Ryan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:34 PM

    I’ll tell ya if he fecks up Batman I’ll be wanting words with him.

    68
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David G
    Favourite David G
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:44 PM

    It’s called the Barbara Streisand effect

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ryan
    Favourite John Ryan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:53 PM

    What ? Fecking up Batman ? ;-)

    Ill grab me jacket.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Art Vandelay
    Favourite Art Vandelay
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 3:59 PM

    I’m sure in a few hundred years time his family will be hiding the fact that they ever knew or were related to an Affleck that was an “actor”..Gigli? Never heard of it…

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Observer
    Favourite An Observer
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:31 PM

    ‘Batman v Superman’ is yet to be released…. Gigli might be a distant memory after that…

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tap Solny
    Favourite Tap Solny
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:09 PM

    People should be held accountable for their actions today not for the deeds of their ancestors.

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute YFG Account
    Favourite YFG Account
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Tap sometimes I think you’re the only person here who talks any sense.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Siddall
    Favourite Joseph Siddall
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:29 PM

    Tap, does that apply to countries, also? If so, some commentators on Journal.ie should take note.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Lyons
    Favourite James Lyons
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:06 PM

    “It’s history” is a forgiving phrase for a reason.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute YFG Account
    Favourite YFG Account
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 3:58 PM

    I think it’s important that we never try to sweep history under the rug. Some actions are always wrong regardless of prevailing beliefs at the time or historical context. Those who murder or treat others poorly should always be held accountable as the criminals they are.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Top Cat
    Favourite Top Cat
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:05 PM

    It’s a delicious irony that uber leftwing commie like Afleck is descendant from slave owners.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute YFG Account
    Favourite YFG Account
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:09 PM

    Top Cat I’d say you’re great craic at parties.

    29
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:38 PM

    There’s got to be a limit to the number of times you can use the “I’d say you’re great at parties” line.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute YFG Account
    Favourite YFG Account
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:47 PM

    Off topic but where did your username come from?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Don’t be coy YFG, we all know you’re talking about FG and AGS’s role in the planning, carrying out and cover up of the Dublin/Monaghan Bombings.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bill Rooney
    Favourite Bill Rooney
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:42 PM

    Slavery was abolished in 1833 by an Act of Parliament – in Britain, of which we were part.

    Many weathy people in Ireland owned slaves – as part of their ‘balenced’ investment portfolio. Just like now, investments will include (say) – oil, property, gilts and drugs.

    Gladstone’s family (4 time English Prime Minister – with a major involvement in Irish affairs!) – had over 2,500 slaves, working on 9 plantations in the West Indies.

    In 1833, the Gladstones received £83 million (modern equivalent) in compensation. Staggeringly – getting paid for the ‘loss’ of slaves.

    The families of David Cameron (and his wife’s) had about 400 slaves on their books; they got £4 million in compensation.

    But so far, nobody has researched (as far as I know) the involvement of Irish investors. But – it is believed that many of our ancestors had a considerable slice of the pie, mainly in the Pale…..

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deco James Connolly
    Favourite Deco James Connolly
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Democrats are and were the real racists , poor old Ben ,his back will be raw with self flagellation .

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Julian
    Favourite Brendan Julian
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 8:18 PM

    Seems he only made things worse by trying to hide the fact. In your face Ben

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Amity Bodega
    Favourite Amity Bodega
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 9:47 PM

    His brother Casey Affleck was arrested for rape but that was covered up too. Also noticed there is very little about the actors on Wikipedia which is strange for such well known actors

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David G
    Favourite David G
    Report
    Apr 20th 2015, 9:53 AM

    There is a huge amount on Wikipedia about Ben but less about Casey so that comment is inaccurate.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernard O'Brien
    Favourite Bernard O'Brien
    Report
    Apr 19th 2015, 10:05 PM

    A third of the people in Ireland are supposedly decended from Nial of the nine hostages which explains a lot !

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Next upNext up:
      News in 60 seconds