In a rare public appearance, Violet Affleck, the 18-year-old daughter of actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, spoke passionately at a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. Clad in a protective face mask, Violet addressed the board during public comments, advocating for enhanced measures to ensure public safety amid ongoing health concerns.
Violet, who is set to begin college soon, shared her personal experience with a post-viral condition she contracted in 2019, emphasizing the unpredictable and lasting effects of viral infections. “I contracted a post-viral condition in 2019,” she revealed. “I’m OK now, but I saw firsthand that medicine does not always have answers to the consequences of even minor viruses. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown that into sharper relief.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, post-viral conditions can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating, lasting for months after the initial infection.
During her brief yet impactful speech, Violet highlighted the devastating impact of long COVID, particularly on vulnerable communities across the country. “One in 10 infections leads to long COVID, which is a devastating neurological and cardiovascular illness that can take away people’s ability to work, see, move and even think,” she stated.
Violet called upon the county to implement several measures to address these concerns. She urged for the expansion of mask availability, installation of air filtration systems, and the use of far-UVC lights in government facilities, including jails and detention centers. Additionally, she stressed the importance of maintaining mask mandates in county medical facilities and expanding access to free tests and treatment.
“We must expand the availability of free tests and treatment and, most importantly, the county must oppose mask bans for any reason,” Violet asserted, underscoring the critical role these measures play in safeguarding public health.
Violet, the eldest of Affleck and Garner’s three children, has largely remained out of the public eye despite her parents’ celebrity status. Garner, speaking at a recent event, reflected on parenting and the lessons she has learned from her children. “My kids have taught me so much,” she shared. “Right now? Humility. They’re on a real path for teaching me humility.”
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Affleck and Garner, who split in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018, co-parent Violet along with their two other children, 15-year-old Seraphina and 12-year-old Samuel. Affleck has since remarried Jennifer Lopez.
Violet’s advocacy at the board meeting underscores her commitment to public health issues and reflects a broader societal dialogue on navigating health challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
