Matt Damon's recent interview with ABC seemed to provide a defense to his Hollywood colleagues who have been outed as sexual predators and serial harassers.
Damon told ABC's Peter Travers that there was a “spectrum” of behavior and that he hoped people could see a difference between “you know, patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation.”
“Both of those behaviors need to be confronted and eradicated without question, but they shouldn’t be conflated,” Damon said.
Many on social media attacked Damon for what was perceived as victim shaming and an awkward attempt to justify many of the horrific actions taken by producers, actors and television hosts that have been recently reported.
Matt Damon is the king of #mansplaining. That guy should have a weekly show where he mansplains every topic--- from how it is to live as an African-American female in Hollywood to how it is for the female employee in American society. Go ahead Matt, let us hear more. 😳🙄
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) December 16, 2017
I've seen Matt Damon a couple of times and in both instances I've thought... I wonder if he'd be O.K. with me giving him a little pat on the ass. Now I know.
— Ryan Stiles (@WhoseRyanStiles) December 16, 2017
Dear Matt Damon,
It’s the micro that makes the macro.
(Thread)
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
Minnie Driver called Matt Damon's comments on sexual misconduct "utterly tone deaf and as a result, systemically part of the problem" https://t.co/jnZqOWT6JT
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 16, 2017
No telling if this revelation from the powerful Damon will have an effect on the perverse culture in Hollywood.
I hate to agree with one of their sort but his statement is accurate insofar as it went.