Matt Damon has finally decided to shut up, and well, better late than never.
Tuesday on the Today Show, the actor decided that when it comes to talking about the #MeToo movement or #TimesUp he should “get in the backseat and close my mouth for a while.”
If only he thought about that before making some horrendous comments back in December. “I think it’s wonderful that women are feeling empowered to tell their stories, and it’s totally necessary,” he said in an interview for Popcorn ABC with Peter Travers. “I do believe there’s a spectrum of behavior… 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 without question, but they shouldn’t be conflated.”
Right, but unfortunately these flat comments preceded a skepticism he had for the way Louis C.K. and Al Franken were being treated in light of sexual assault allegations against them. Yikes Matt.
That wasn't the only time he revealed how uninformed he was about the subject at hand. He took time to remind us that not all guys are sexual predators in an interview with Business Insider. "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.”
The Downsizing star apparently regrets these comments. “I really wish I’d listened a lot more before I weighed in on this,” he said.
When it comes to the Time's Up movement and progress toward equality in all areas, it's time for Damon and others to pass the mic. “I think ultimately what it is for me is I don’t want to further anybody’s pain with anything I do or say, so for that, I’m really sorry,” he said. “[With] Time’s Up, a lot of those women are my dear friends, and I love them and respect them and support what they’re doing and want to be a part of that change.”
Listening is a good place to start.
