Damon apologizes for his remarks on sexual misconduct
‘I really wish I had listened’
Matt Damon is apologizing to #TimesUp and #MeToo supporters after controversial remarks he recently made about sexual misconduct in Hollywood.
The Downsizing star — who has worked with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein — came under fire last month after attempting to argue that inappropriate behaviour should be addressed according to its level of severity.
“I really wish I had listened before I weighed in on any of this,” Damon told Postmedia Network by phone Tuesday afternoon.
In a Dec. 14 interview with ABC’s Peter Travers, the Oscar winner said: “There’s a difference between, you know, patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, right? Both of those behaviours need to be confronted and eradicated without question, but they shouldn’t be conflated, right?”
Those comments drew anger from actresses including Alyssa Milano, Damon’s ex Minnie Driver and Evan Rachel Wood, who slammed him on Twitter. There was also a social media campaign to have Damon dropped from the upcoming female-led Ocean’s Eight.
Now, Damon says he regrets his remarks.
“Yes, it’s been a little over a month and I just have been listening to the response — carefully — and in retrospect ... I wouldn’t have said what I said,” Damon said. “Ultimately, what it comes down to for me is I don’t ever want to further anybody’s pain with anything I say or do. So for that, I’m truly sorry.”
Damon was calling in support of his non-profit Water.org, which he started with co-founder and CEO Gary White. This year, Water.org and beer brand Stella Artois will once again team up in their ongo- ing collaborative effort to end the global water crisis.
Damon will appear in a Super Bowl ad Feb. 4 and customers in Canada will be able to help people in the developing world gain access to clean water through the purchase of 12-packs of Stella or limited-edition chalices designed by artists from countries where Water.org operates.
“It’s amazing that Stella is doing this,” Damon said. “It’s an awesome partnership for us. They’re using their formidable reach to really get this message out.
“If anybody in Canada, between now and the middle of April, buys a 12-pack of Stella, you are also buying clean water for someone in the developing world for six months. It’s just amazing ... This is a real tangible way that you can move the needle for a fellow human being.”