Ben Affleck: Meet the “almost” girlfriend who thought he was a catfish

Not many people know about Raya. Or, more accurately, not many of us commoners know about it. The dating app – ominously referred to as “Illuminati Tinder” by some – caters to entertainers, celebrities, and overall showbiz types. Raya promises the chance to find love among your peers … or a good networking opportunity at least. You could meet Ben Affleck and either become his new girlfriend or be in his new movie. First, you’d have to believe it was Ben Affleck though. Oh, Ben. Dude can’t catch a break. First he’s Batman, then he isn’t, then he’s Batman again, then someone exposes his online dating failures. Not being able to make things work with Ana de Armas is bad enough, but now Affleck has to deal with a Raya user spilling the tea about the one time she turned him down. Yes, someone thought Ben Affleck was a catfish and passed up on the chance to be his girlfriend.

Swipe right on Batfleck

We can all thank Raya user Nivine Jay for giving us the chance to judge Ben Affleck about his online dating etiquette. Jay, an actress and writer, shared her Ben Affleck story on TikTok – you know, the app where self-respect goes to die. The TikTok video was captioned: “Thinking of the time I matched with Ben Affleck on raya and thought it was fake so I unmatched him and he sent me a video on instagram.” What follows that claim on Nivine Jay’s TikTok is, indeed, the video Ben Affleck sent her on Instagram. And, honestly, after all the recent scandals about influencers sending inappropriate videos to minors, it’s a relief to see that Affleck simply sent an extremely dorky close-up of his face. “Nivine, why did you unmatch me? It’s me!”, says Zack Snyder’s Batman with the slightest hint of a smirk. Like, you know he knows she had a meltdown right after she watched the video. Yes, Nivine: Ben Affleck wanted you to be his Raya girlfriend and you blocked his @ss. So, of course, the next course of action was to blast Affleck’s video all over the web.

Big yikes or cute yikes?

To be fair, Nivine Jay hasn’t specified when this Raya-drama happened. Could’ve been years ago, so it’s not like she immediately set out to embarrass Affleck. And also, if you believe Jay, she didn’t share the video to out Affleck as a creep who can’t take no for an answer. Instead, she was just making fun of herself for missing out on dating the OG Daredevil. Original intentions don’t matter when it comes to the internet though. Now there’s a video of Ben Affleck asking a woman why she turned him down, and everybody has an opinion about it. Some are demonizing Affleck for being pushy and not knowing how to take rejection. Some think it’s endearing that he wanted to make sure the object of his affection knew what she was missing out on. If nothing else, everybody agrees that Affleck was holding the camera waaaaaaaay too close to his face. This guy directs movies? Come on. Ben Affleck, that’s not how you get a girlfriend online! Get yourself a DP ASAP. The incident occurred prior to the May 2021 posting, and no subsequent public statements or incidents have been reported since.

Where Is Nivine Nash Now?

Nivine Jay later became Nivine Nash after she got engaged to comedian Jason Nash in December 2022. The couple married around 2024. She continues to maintain an active social media presence, posting lifestyle content that often features her husband. Nash is also the author of the novel Cry Baby, a project that sits alongside her ongoing work as an actress and writer. Her public profile has shifted from the single woman who once unmatched with a celebrity on Raya to a married author and content creator whose feed now reflects domestic life rather than dating mishaps.

Ben Affleck’s Post-Divorce Life in 2026

Ben Affleck’s divorce from Jennifer Lopez was finalized in January 2025. As of mid-2026, no public romantic links have surfaced. Reports indicate he remains open to dating but has placed the priority on work. The 2021 Raya story now sits in a different context: the man who once sent an awkward close-up video is single again, yet the speculation that once swirled around possible pairings has quieted in favor of tracking his next film projects rather than his dating app activity.

Raya’s Enduring Celebrity Appeal

Raya remains known as an exclusive app for entertainers and high-profile users. The 2021 incident with Affleck highlighted both its appeal for those seeking discreet connections and the risk that any exchange could surface publicly. Similar stories occasionally surface, though few have matched the awkward charm of a Batman actor filming himself at arm’s length. The platform continues to function as both a dating tool and a networking venue for industry figures who prefer to keep their personal lives out of mainstream tabloid view.

The Lasting Meme Status of Affleck’s Video

The dorky close-up video was widely shared and discussed in 2021 for its awkward charm. It continues to surface in conversations about celebrity online dating fails, resurfacing whenever the topic of Raya or Affleck’s romantic history appears. The clip has become a shorthand example of how even A-listers can misread the moment, and its endurance owes as much to the unpolished delivery as to the star involved. No follow-up footage has emerged to replace it in the meme rotation.

U up?

Nivine Nash has been married since around 2024. Affleck’s divorce from Jennifer Lopez was finalized in 2025 with no reunion. Affleck remains single with no public new partner. The old questions about shipping or second chances have been replaced by straightforward updates on two people whose brief, one-sided Raya exchange became a footnote in each of their timelines rather than the start of anything further.