Ben Affleck
Actor and activist Ben Affleck looks on at the closing Plenary Session: Imagine All The People at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Sept. 21, 2016. Getty Images/ Bryan R. Smith

Actor Ben Affleck was barely out of his third stint in the rehab for alcohol addiction, but rumors of his chances of relapsing to his destructive habit has begun circulating in the entertainment world. The latest narrative revolves around the actor’s friends being concerned his upcoming movie will lead him back to alcoholism – a narrative debunked by Gossip Cop.

The “fake news” was spun by a Radar Online report titled “Friends Fear Boozy Ben’s New Movie Will Lead To Relapse.”

The article references Affleck’s upcoming movie, “Torrance,” where he plays the lead character — a former high school basketball star whose addiction to alcohol leads him to destroy both his career and marriage.

Citing the fact that his own addiction had affected his 12-year-long marriage with actress Jennifer Garner and his career, an anonymous source went on to tell the tabloid the “Justice League” actor shared a number of similarities with the character he plays in the new film, which could do him more harm than good.

“Ben has his heart set on winning another Oscar,” a source said. “He can identify with the character’s tortured soul. This guy is like the mirror image of Ben. This role will pull him straight back into the dark hole opens a new window. He’s trying to pull himself out of!”

The unnamed insider added while Affleck hailed the movie as his re-entry into the spotlight, his friends didn’t see it that way.

“Ben sees this as his big comeback,” the source claimed. “But everybody’s afraid this movie will be way too emotionally damaging for him opens a new window.”

Beyond vague claims, the source did not reveal any concrete evidence such as names of Affleck’s friends who were allegedly concerned for his health. Instead, the tabloid went on to reiterate the problems the actor faced in his relationship with his former wife and how Garner was the one who encouraged him to seek help for his addiction.

The tabloid even cited inaccurate facts. It said Affleck went in for his fourth stint in rehab, while in fact it was the third time the actor went in for treatment.

Gossip Cop shut down the false rumor by a statement from Affleck’s rep, who went on account to say that many of the actor’s “friends loved the script for him.”

The rumor-busting site also added Affleck had a tight-knit group of friends who were unlikely to snitch on the actor to an unreliable tabloid, as all of them are very protective of him.