Alanis Morissette References Ben Affleck During Los Angeles Show

Morissette made the remark during “Butterfly with a Machete,” a theatrical residency at YouTube Theater. “I even had a guy ask me why I didn’t lead with my sexuality… Thanks Ben Affleck,” she told the audience, according to a November 7 eyewitness review in Los Angeles Magazine. The production reportedly paired the line with footage of Affleck’s character dying in an explosion in the film. The performance drew renewed attention on November 12, when Page Six and InStyle reported on it. Affleck has not publicly given his account. Page Six said his representative had not responded to its request for comment by publication time.

Morissette and Affleck appeared in Kevin Smith’s 1999 fantasy comedy “Dogma.” He played Bartleby, a fallen angel; Matt Damon played Loki, while Morissette appeared as God. The film clip was part of the stage production, not a new interaction between the former co-stars. The meaning Affleck might attach to the reference is unknown.

The remark followed Morissette’s November 3 appearance on the “Handsome” podcast, where she publicly identified as pansexual. Asked by host Fortune Feimster whether difficult experiences with men had made her consider becoming a lesbian, Morissette replied, “I’m pansexual, so, yeah,” then added, “I get everything.” She confirmed she was serious after Tig Notaro expressed surprise, joking that she liked to leave the revelation “for the epilogue.” Morissette is married to musician Mario “Souleye” Treadway; they wed in May 2010 and have three children.

The disclosure also has earlier context. In a 2008 interview with The Advocate, Morissette spoke about relationships with LGBTQ+ friends and experiences with women, saying she thought it was “a beautiful rite of passage for everyone to play with their sexuality at some point.” Her four Los Angeles residency dates were November 5, 6, 10 and 11. YouTube Theater described the show as combining music, storytelling and theatrical scenes, and Morissette co-wrote, produced and performed in it.