Jennifer Garner Admits Her Kids Think She’s ‘Fully Cringe’ After Talk-Show Reveal
Jennifer Garner told viewers she’s fully aware her children don’t consider her cool — and she doesn’t mind. In a candid appearance on a daytime talk show on Thursday, February 19 (ET), the actress described how her three kids largely avoid watching her projects, called her "fully cringe, " and even asked, "Do you need us to?" when she inquired whether they would tune in to her series.
Children skip their mom’s projects: "I am only embarrassing"
Garner, 53, spelled out the blunt family dynamic: Violet, 20; Seraphina, 17; and Samuel, 13, just don’t want to see their mother on screen. She laughed through the explanation, saying, "I am only embarrassing, " and elaborated that kids often shy away from watching parents enact emotional or romantic moments. She noted that her children find seeing their parents cry or be intimate to be particularly uncomfortable — a common parental complaint rendered in frank, self-deprecating terms. When Garner asked whether they planned to watch her latest season, the blunt reply was, "Do you need us to?" — a line that succinctly captured the kids’ unwillingness to engage with their mom’s professional life.
The actress framed the dynamic as normal and unsurprising. Her comments make clear that even for high-profile parents, family viewing habits can be detached from public acclaim; household reactions are driven by the awkward reality of seeing a parent in vulnerable situations on screen. Garner kept the tone light, acknowledging the embarrassment factor while also celebrating the warm relationships she maintains off-camera.
Costars earn her "cool points" while family remains unimpressed
While her children may opt out, Garner said her colleagues often deliver the rare "cool points" she craves from her kids. She singled out a few costars by name, praising their ability to charm both audiences and, indirectly, her family. Garner gave a playful shout-out to Judy Greer — whom she referred to as "Aunt Judy" — noting that all her children "love" her. She also thanked a fellow actor known for a major fantasy role, pointing out that her youngest, Samuel, is currently "really into Game of Thrones, " which helped that costar rack up Garner’s parental cool cred.
Garner name-checked others from her cast as well, saying that they collectively helped her accumulate those fleeting moments of parental street cred. During the conversation she joked with the host that the host had "got them good, " and quipped that she gets by "with a little help from my friends. " The tone was affectionate throughout — Garner balanced teasing about her lack of coolness with gratitude for the professional and personal bonds formed while working together.
The exchange offers a slice-of-life look at how celebrity parenthood intersects with ordinary family boundaries: admiration from fans doesn’t always translate into family viewership, and coworkers can occasionally earn a parent holds over their kids that even a household name cannot.
