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Matt Damon roasted for 'tone deaf' sexual harassment comments

Updated / Wednesday, 20 Dec 2017 07:04
Matt Damon criticised for sexual misconduct comments
Matt Damon criticised for sexual misconduct comments

Matt Damon has been roundly criticised on Twitter for "tone deaf" comments he made regarding the sexual abuse scandal in Hollywood.

The actor initially came under fire for remarks made in an interview with ABC News in which he said that not all men who have been accused of misconduct should be tarred with the same brush.

In his new comments, Damon says that men who are not sexual predators are not being talked about enough.

"We're in this watershed moment, and it's great, but I think one thing that's not being talked about is there are a whole s***load of guys - the preponderance of men I've worked with - who don't do this kind of thing and whose lives aren't going to be affected," Damon told Business Insider while promoting his new film Downsizing.

"If I have to sign a sexual-harassment thing, I don't care, I'll sign it," he added. "I would have signed it before. I don't do that, and most of the people I know don't do that."

A number of high-profile Hollywood stars have taken to Twitter to air their opinions on Damon's comments including Rose McGowan, one of the many women accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, writing: "Matt Damon is dense AF".

Singer and actress Cher said: "Matt Damon proving, once again, that nothing is more fragile than masculinity."

She added: "BTW, one should not need or require applause for being a decent human being and not harassing or assaulting others, Matt Damon."

Will and Grace actress Debra Messing tweeted: "Matt Damon - SERIOUSLY? You are a smart man. A privileged, white man. This is NOT the time to ask for a pat on the back. How about we NOT celebrate men who are simply decent human beings.

"Stay on track, Matt. It's not about you."

In an interview with ABC News last week, Damon said that not all men in the film industry accused of sexual misconduct should be tarred with the same brush.

"I do believe that there's a spectrum of behaviour and we're going to have to figure, you know, there's a difference between patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation," he said.

"Both of those behaviours need to be confronted and eradicated without question, but they shouldn't be conflated."

Damon added: "I would like to point out that, even though it feels like there's this avalanche of men, how many people in the movie business have taken a tumble now?

"Think of how many men are in the movie business... this is like 1% of the guys, It's not everybody, it just feels like it."

Take a look at some more reaction to Damon's comments below.

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