Matt Damon’s comments about sexual abuse in the entertainment industry have landed him in some serious trouble. First it was Alyssa Milano and Minnie Driver who slammed him for his controversial interview in which he asserted that the recent wave of sexual misconduct allegations don’t all carry the same weight.
Matt Damon’s comments about sexual abuse in the entertainment industry have landed him in some serious trouble. First it was Alyssa Milano and Minnie Driver who slammed him for his controversial interview in which he asserted that the recent wave of sexual misconduct allegations don’t all carry the same weight.
The actor also came under fire last week, for telling ABC News that there was a “spectrum of behaviour” and a “difference between, you know, patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, right?”
And now Damon’s comments on sexual harassment have prompted a petition for his cameo to be removed from the mostly female cast of Ocean’s 8. A recent tally of the online petition has over 17,000 signatures calling for his removal.
“The all-female reboot of Ocean’s 8 was supposed to be an empowering film for women,” reads a petition Rebecca G. created months ago that has been getting more publicity since Damon’s latest interviews and this week’s debut of the Ocean’s 8 trailer (which doesn’t show him).
“Damon’s inclusion would trivialize the serious nature of the charges against sexual abusers like Weinstein — and show massive disrespect for the brave women speaking out,” the petition says. “I’m calling on Ocean’s 8 producers George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh to toss Damon’s Ocean’s 8 cameo where it belongs: on the cutting room floor.”
The petition also alleges that Damon “enabled” Harvey Weinstein’s conduct by trying to squash a New York Times report in 2004 that detailed instances where the now fallen Hollywood mogul exploited his status as a studio executive to harass and assault women. Even though, Damon claims he had no idea of the allegations against Weinstein, the petition states otherwise. Will Matt Damon survive this or will his role get an axe, time will tell.
