An emotional Ben Affleck chokes up and then mentions ex Jennifer Garner while accepting award

Ben Affleck choked up and then mentioned Jennifer Garner when he accepted a humanitarian award at the Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala in St Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday (16 July).

The Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice star was honoured with the award for his work with the nonprofit organisation, Eastern Congo Initiative, which he started with Whitney Williams, who welcomed the actor on stage with a touching introduction. The non-profit body was established in 2010.

According to Us Weekly, the Accountant star choked up at the beginning of his speech and then shared an anecdote about his estranged wife and their daughter while on stage. During his speech, he said when he told his 11-year-old daughter Violet that he was getting the award, she pointed out to him that her mother had already got the same award last year.

"When I told my oldest daughter that I was getting this award, she said, 'Yeah, Dad. Mom already has that one'," Affleck said.

Affleck and Garner split in 2015 and filed for divorce earlier this year. They also have two other children - Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5.

Affleck was last seen in Congo, Africa, in June. It was his 10th trip to the country.

"Every time I visit, I leave even more inspired there will be a brighter and more peaceful future for the Congolese," he wrote on Instagram last month.

"The challenges are real, and the road is long, but the Congolese are the hardest working and most hopeful people I know. We often speak of heroes — I count these among the many. It's the honor of a lifetime to support Congo. My heart will forever be there with them."