The drama from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has spilled into Hollywood territory. Lisa Barlow found herself at the center of an awkward celebrity encounter story after Ben Affleck admitted he had no recollection of meeting the reality star.
The situation started when Barlow told her RHOSLC castmates she was skipping a girls’ trip for a work event. She dropped some major names during a conversation with co-star Angie Katsanevas about why she wouldn’t be joining the RV road trip.
“I’ll be with Ben and Blake [Lively],” Barlow told her castmates during the Season 6 episode. She explained that she had professional commitments that took priority over the cast outing.
But things took an uncomfortable turn when Access Hollywood asked Affleck about the supposed encounter during a press junket for his new Netflix movie. The Oscar winner appeared genuinely confused by the question.
“I haven’t been in Utah in, I don’t know, eight, nine, 10 years?” Affleck said when shown a photo of Barlow. The actor tried to be diplomatic about the situation while admitting he simply didn’t remember the interaction.
The Gone Girl star was careful not to outright deny meeting Barlow. Instead, he acknowledged the reality of celebrity encounters. “You don’t remember everyone you meet,” Affleck explained during the interview.
That’s when Lisa Barlow decided to set the record straight. The reality star quickly responded with specific details about their alleged meeting. She clarified exactly when and where they crossed paths.
“SXSW [for] The Accountant 2, and it was a great movie and party,” Barlow wrote in an Instagram comment. She was referring to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, where Affleck’s action thriller premiered in March.
Barlow even shared TikTok videos from her SXSW experience. The clips showed Affleck walking the red carpet at the premiere of The Accountant 2, backing up her claim that she attended the event.
Meanwhile, her RHOSLC co-stars had a field day with the situation. Angie Katsanevas trolled Barlow in the comments of a Bravo fan post, writing that Affleck recognized her pet poodle Celia but didn’t know Lisa.
The reaction from Bravo fans has been mixed. Some find the whole situation hilarious, while others appreciate Barlow coming back with receipts. Social media erupted with commentary about the awkward exchange between the reality star and Hollywood A-lister.
This isn’t the first time Ben Affleck’s name has come up in connection with Utah reality TV. Last year, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck claimed a family connection to the actor, though that claim was later walked back.
For her part, Lisa Barlow remains confident about her version of events. The businesswoman and reality star has always maintained that she has a full professional life beyond what viewers see on RHOSLC.
