Kerry Washington: Ben Affleck will do anything — except promote Animals on social media
Synopsis
Kerry Washington's Instagram reel of Ben Affleck walking out the moment she asks him to make a TikTok video is, unintentionally, the best trailer for their Netflix crime thriller Animals. With the film dropping on 9 October, the Oscar-winning director's social-media aversion has become the story — and the most-watched clip associated with the project.
Key Takeaways
Kerry Washington posted an Instagram reel showing Ben Affleck walking away when asked to make a TikTok to promote their film.
Their Netflix crime thriller Animals premieres on 9 October on Netflix .
The film is directed and co-written by Ben Affleck and also stars Gillian Anderson , Steven Yeun , and Adriana Paz .
Animals follows a father racing to pay ransom for his kidnapped son, resorting to desperate measures to raise the money.
Washington holds a Primetime Emmy Award and Affleck holds two Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards .
Actress Kerry Washington has playfully called out her Animals co-star and director Ben Affleck, revealing on Instagram that while he would 'do anything' for her, promoting their upcoming Netflix crime thriller on social media is where he draws the line. The lighthearted exchange, shared ahead of the film's 9 October debut on Netflix, has quickly caught attention online.
The Reel That Started It All
Washington posted a funny reel on Instagram featuring Affleck earnestly declaring he would do anything for her. The moment she asks him to make a TikTok video, Affleck wordlessly gets up and walks away — drawing laughs from fans worldwide. Washington captioned the clip: 'Ben would do anything for me. Except go on social media and promote our new movie Animals. On @netflix October 9th. Maybe one day….'
The post is a witty nod to Affleck's famously guarded relationship with social media, contrasting sharply with Washington's own comfort in engaging fans online.
About the Film Animals
Animals is an upcoming American crime thriller directed by Ben Affleck and written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre, and Billy Ray. The film stars Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun.
The story follows Mark Kimball, a man whose son is kidnapped and who has only a few hours to arrange the ransom. With most of his funds tied up in a political campaign, Kimball and his wife are forced to get their hands dirty — exposing a side of their lives they never intended to reveal.
Who Is Kerry Washington
Washington is one of American television's most decorated performers, the holder of a Primetime Emmy Award and a recipient of nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and two Tony Awards. She was listed among the eighth-highest-paid television actresses in 2018.
She earned widespread recognition as crisis management expert Olivia Pope in the long-running drama Scandal, and earned further Emmy recognition for her work in the political film Confirmation and the miniseries Little Fires Everywhere. Washington made her feature film debut in Our Song in 2000 and her Broadway debut in David Mamet's play Race in 2009.
Ben Affleck's Career at a Glance
Affleck's honours include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. He began acting as a child in the PBS educational series The Voyage of the Mimi, later gaining wider notice through the independent comedy Dazed and Confused and several Kevin Smith films, including Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma.
With Animals set to arrive on Netflix on 9 October, Washington's viral moment may end up being the most effective — if unintentional — piece of promotion Affleck never agreed to.
Point of View
And Washington has turned that quirk into organic publicity that no PR budget could buy. The irony is sharp: a director who controls every frame of a film refuses to control a 15-second clip on TikTok. For Netflix, a platform that lives and dies on algorithmic virality, having its lead actor visibly opt out of the promotional playbook is a risk — but Washington's self-aware humour may be converting that risk into reach.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Netflix film Animals about?
Animals is a crime thriller directed by Ben Affleck in which Mark Kimball's son is kidnapped and he has only hours to raise the ransom. With funds tied up in a political campaign, he and his wife are forced into desperate and morally compromising choices.
When does Animals release on Netflix?
Animals premieres on Netflix on 9 October 2026. It is an American crime thriller directed by Ben Affleck and co-written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre, and Billy Ray.
Why did Kerry Washington post the Ben Affleck reel?
Washington shared the reel on Instagram to humorously highlight that Affleck refuses to promote their film Animals on social media. The clip shows him walking away the moment she mentions a TikTok video, with Washington captioning it as a light-hearted call-out.
Who stars in Animals alongside Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington?
The film also features Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun in key roles.
What are Kerry Washington and Ben Affleck known for?
Washington is best known for playing crisis expert Olivia Pope in Scandal and holds a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe nominations, and two Tony Award nominations. Affleck is a two-time Academy Award winner and BAFTA winner who has directed films including Gone Baby Gone and Argo.
