Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck's Middle Child Shares Name Change During Meaningful Moment
Jennifer Garner's three children, whom she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck, each took the podium during their grandfather's memorial service on April 6 to share Bible verses in his memory. The funeral came after William Jack Garner passed away on March 30, with Jennifer taking to Instagram to announce the loss of her parent shortly after.
While the celebration of life, in a now-deleted livestream on Facebook, marked a significant moment for the Garner-Affleck family, it was also meaningful for the actor's middle child. For the first time, the 2009-born Affleck introduced themselves publicly as Fin. "Hello my name is Fin Affleck," they said simply before reading Proverbs 16:8.
The announcement came after paparazzi spotted the Affleck teen debuting a bold makeover while saying goodbye to their mother at a bus stop. While they sported a fresh buzz cut, they also wore a backpack with the name "Fin" embroidered on it. This wasn't the first time they've changed up their style, as they've often experimented with more creative looks when out and about with their family.
Jennifer & Ben is are supportive parents
Of course, it's not fair to report and speculate about what Fin identifies as — that's a personal choice whether they decide to reveal that information. That said, Jennifer Garner has spoken up before about wanting her children to openly express their gender identities and sexualities to her. "As far as my kids growing up in a world that is different from the way that the generation above them has grown up — my kids are growing up saying, 'I don't know if I'll someday marry a man, a woman. I don't know,'" she told Pride Source. "Everything is open ... The kind of gender normative thing is not celebrated and expected in the way that it used to be."
Jennifer isn't the only supportive parent in the Affleck kids' corner, as Ben Affleck also encourages free expression and healthy communication in his household. "I try to be honest with them and say the most important thing is to be open and honest about how you're feeling and when you're not feeling good, to say this is difficult for me and to reach out to their parent and teacher," the actor told People.
Although the loss of Jennifer's dad is a tough moment for the family, it's clear they have the tools and love to get through it the best they can.