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Matt Damon has found himself in some hot water after sitting down with ABC’s Peter Travers for an interview on the current social climate, addressing the many sexual harassment and sexual abuse allegations that have surfaced this year. Now, celebs, including Minnie Driver and Alyssa Milano, are speaking out about his remarks, taking the actor to task for his controversial words.
Damon, 47, made several brow-raising comments during the course of his exchange with the journalist which touched on the scale of severity of the incidents in question, whether some of the accused assaulters might be redeemable should they admit guilt, and whether or not people were aware of Weinstein’s own indiscretions.
While he said it was “wonderful” and “necessary” that women were opening up about their experiences, he went on to add that there was a spectrum of behavior to consider. “You know, there’s a difference between patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, right? Both of those behaviors need to be confronted and eradicated, but they shouldn’t be conflated, right?”
He also touched on redemption for those admitting wrongdoing, saying, “None of us came here perfect… and the fear for me right now, we’re in this moment where at this moment — and I hope it doesn’t stay this way — the clearer signal to men and to younger people is, deny it. Because if you take responsibility for what you did, your life’s going to get ruined.”
Specifically mentioning Louis CK, who responded to allegations against him by saying, “These stories are true,” Damon noted that while he didn’t see the details of the case, “I did see his statement, which kind of, which [was] arresting to me… And I just remember thinking, ‘Well, that’s a sign of somebody who… Well, we can work with that.” He later added, “I don’t imagine he’s going to do these things again… I imagine the price he’s paid at this point is so beyond anything that he… I just think we have to kind of start delineating between what those behaviors are.”
Driver, who also happens to be Matt Damon’s ex and co-star (the pair dated in 1997 after filming their hit Good Will Hunting) was not here for Damon’s remarks, Tweeting, “Good God SERIOUSLY?”
God God, SERIOUSLY? https://t.co/NDZFrLDXil
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) December 15, 2017
She also responded to several fans who commented on the situation, saying that when it comes to abuse, there is no hierarchy, and that such views were systemically part of the problem.
Gosh it’s so *interesting how men with all these opinions about women’s differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape reveal themselves to be utterly tone deaf and as a result, systemically part of the problem( *profoundly unsurprising)
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) December 15, 2017
There are so many men I love who do NOT frame the differentiation between sexual misconduct assault and rape as an excuse or worse- our problem. Such bollocks..
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) December 15, 2017
No. You don’t get to be hierarchical with abuse. And you don’t get to tell women that because some guy only showed them their penis their pain isnt as great as a woman who was raped.
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) December 16, 2017
Alyssa Milano joined her in expressing her disappointment, penning an “open letter” of tweets.
Dear Matt Damon,
It’s the micro that makes the macro.
(Thread)
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
“Dear Matt Damon,” she began. “It’s the micro that makes the macro. We are in a “culture of outrage” because the magnitude of rage, is, in fact, overtly outrageous. And it is righteous.”
We are in a “culture of outrage” because the magnitude of rage is, in fact, overtly outrageous. And it is righteous.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
I have been a victim of each component of the sexual assault spectrum of which you speak. They all hurt. And they are all connected to a patriarchy intertwined with normalized, accepted–even welcomed– misogyny.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
We are not outraged because someone grabbed our asses in a picture. We are outraged because we were made to feel this was normal. We are outraged because we have been gaslighted. We are outraged because we were silenced for so long.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
She went to say that she’d been a victim of each component of “the sexual assault spectrum of which you speak. They all hurt.”
In conclusion, the Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later actress noted that “There are different stages of cancer, some are more treatable than others, but it’s still cancer.”
Sexual harassment, misconduct, assault and violence is a systemic disease. The tumor is being cut out right now with no anesthesia. Please send flowers. #MeToo
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
Sexual harassment, misconduct, assault and violence is a systemic disease. The tumor is being cut out right now with no anesthesia. Please send flowers. #MeToo
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
What do you think of Minnie and Alyssa’s responses? Share with us over @BritandCo.
(Photos via Dimitrios Kambouris, Michael Loccisano, + Brenda Chase/Getty)
