Ben Affleck apologises for slavery cover-up

He tried to stop PBS revealing the information

Published 23rd Apr 2015

Ben Affleck has apologised for attempting to stop a PBS documentary from revealing that he had slave-owning ancestors.

The actor admitted he felt “embarrassed” after the news was revealed, following recent Sony emails published by WikiLeaks.

They suggested that Affleck tried to convince ‘Finding Your Roots’ producer Henry Gates to censor certain aspects of his family’s past.

Taking to Facebook, Affleck said: “I felt embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.

“I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use. This is a collaborative creative process.”

He continued to say that ‘Finding Your Roots’ is a programme where you voluntarily provide "a great deal of information" about your family, and it’s important that his own story keeps discussion regarding slavery in the public domain.

“We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors,” Affleck said. “And the degree of interest in this story in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery.”

Broadcaster PBS has launched its own internal investigation into the situation.

Check out the full statement on his

Meanwhile, Affleck will star as Batman in the upcoming highly anticipated movie ‘Batman vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice’.

Following its recent explosive trailer, the film will hit cinemas on 25th March 2016.

Credit: PA Photos