Ben Affleck received an unexpected visit from law enforcement on Sunday at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles. The 52-year-old actor and filmmaker’s property was approached by individuals believed to be FBI agents and LA County Sheriff’s deputies. The officers waited outside the gate for several minutes but eventually left without entering.
It is unclear if the actor was home during the visit, as no one appeared to answer the gate.
His $20.5 million estate has so far remained untouched by the LA fires, even though it borders Pacific Palisades, an area heavily affected by the blazes.
As of Sunday evening, the Palisades and Eaton fires have claimed 24 lives, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. While Ben’s home is under threat due to its proximity to the fires—which were only 13% contained—he was seen last week assisting his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their children in evacuating. Garner later revealed that she tragically lost a friend to the fires, as they were unable to escape in time.
Law enforcement officers, including one wearing an FBI-branded shirt and another in body armor, were seen using the property’s call box but never gained access. Two additional deputies, one in a Sheriff’s Department windbreaker and the other in a utility vest, also left the scene without any further action.
Despite the fires, Affleck and his family have been fortunate so far, with their home remaining intact. Last week, he was seen returning to his property while mandatory evacuation orders were still in effect. However, he later relocated to Garner’s home to ensure his family’s safety.
In the wake of the fires, Affleck has chosen to focus on his family and skip the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, where his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez’s film Kiss of the Spider Woman will debut. While he served as a producer on the project, Affleck has decided to step back from its publicity to let Lopez take center stage.
The fires have forced over 180,000 people to evacuate, displacing countless residents, including many celebrities. However, the devastation has disproportionately affected those without the resources to recover from such catastrophic losses.
