Mindy Kaling, best known for her roles The Office and The Mindy Projectbrought her signature to the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) on August 21.
Addressing the crowd at Chicago's United Center, Kaling couldn't resist taking a light-hearted jab at fellow Massachusetts native Ben Affleck, who is currently in the midst of a highly publicized divorce from Jennifer Lopez.
“I love you, Massachusetts!” Kaling shouted, drawing cheers from the crowd. “Everybody always hates us. But they just don't get it. Go Sox! Go Jason Tatum! Ben Affleck, hang in there!”
He then said, “Dunkin' Donuts is the best coffee in the world!”—a playful nod to Affleck's known love of the brand, where he serves as an official ambassador.
Kaling's connection to Affleck goes beyond their shared Massachusetts roots.
Early in her career, she co-wrote and starred in the Off-Broadway play Matt and Bena satirical take on how Affleck and Matt Damon wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Good Will Hunting.
The play, which she co-wrote with her college friend Brenda Withers, helped establish Kaling as a major comedic force in the entertainment industry.
The timing of Kaling's statements was particularly poignant, just one day after J.Lo filed for divorce from Affleck on Aug. 20. separation date as April 26, 2024—just a few months before their wedding anniversary.
The Bennifer saga has been a rollercoaster for fans. The couple first started dating in 2002 after meeting on set Gigli. Their relationship was a hot topic in the early 2000s, with their first engagement making headlines.
Although they called off their planned wedding in 2003 and eventually divorced in 2004, they rekindled their relationship nearly two decades later. After tying the knot in Las Vegas in 2022, they celebrated their union with a grand ceremony in Georgia, surrounded by family and friends.
Kaling's shout-out to Affleck was just one of many highlights of the third night of the DNC—she also shared a light-hearted but meaningful moment about her connection with Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I'm an incredibly famous Gen Z actress you might recognize The Office, The Mindy Projector as the woman who bravely outed Kamala Harris as Indian in an Instagram cooking video,” quipped Kaling.
Reflecting on their shared legacy, Kaling recalled, “We hit it off right away. We talked about the love we have for our mothers, who had both died of cancer.” He continued, “Both of our mothers were immigrants from India who came to America and dedicated their lives to serving others.”
Kaling also couldn't resist a little humor about Harris' cooking skills, adding, “But what I remember most about the vice president is that Kamala Harris can cook. Guys, she was way better than me. But she also knew my family was watching, so as she gently corrected my sloppy dose, she complimented me every step of the way.”
The evening, themed 'A Fight for Our Freedoms', also featured performances by music stars such as Maren Morris and Stevie Wonder. Morris took the stage with her protest anthem “Better Than We Found It,” while Wonder delivered a powerful rendition of “Higher Ground.”
“This is a time to tell your kids where you've been and what you've been doing,” Wonder told the crowd. “When we stand between the pain of history and the promises of tomorrow, we must choose courage over complacency.”
The DNC has seen a star-studded lineup as it prepares to accept Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential nomination Thursday night, with performances from artists like P!nk scheduled for the final night.
Watch Mindy Kaling's DNC speech below.
