Sometimes when I’m covering a celebrity interview, particularly with someone I like, I’ll focus so closely on a certain angle that I miss key details. That happened yesterday when I covered Matt Damon’s interview with The Guardian. I didn’t thoroughly parse his comments on actors’ sexuality and glossed over them in the context of Damon’s relationship with fame. I was covering the story from the perspective of Damon claiming that he tries to be “boring” and uninteresting to the press and it went over my head that he could be suggesting that actors should stay in the closet. I’m sorry for missing that. (Plus there were several interviews that I was trying to include at once, although that’s a weak excuse.)
To recap, at the end of their long profile with Matt Damon, The Guardian included his thoughts on gay actors. Here’s what he said in context.
Damon was a straight man playing gay. Is it harder for actors to be openly gay in Hollywood? “I’m sure. When Ben and I first came on the scene there were rumours that we were gay because it was two guys who wrote a script together.”
Really?
“I know. It’s just like any piece of gossip… and it put us in a weird position of having to answer, you know what I mean? Which was then really deeply offensive. I don’t want to, like [imply] it’s some sort of disease – then it’s like I’m throwing my friends under the bus. But at the time, I remember thinking and saying, Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy – more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor – it’s tough to make the argument that he didn’t take a hit for being out.”
He thinks attitudes are changing, and welcomes the introduction of same-sex marriage in California in 2008. “I think it must be really hard for actors to be out publicly,” he continues. “But in terms of actors, I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”
So Damon officially has a #damonsplaining problem. He will dismiss complex issues that affect other communities from his position of privilege like it’s NBD. Then he’ll frame the criticism as if we didn’t understand him anyway. On The Ellen show yesterday, Damon clarified his comments by simply stating that he was misquoted and that outlets ran with the headline that he said actors should stay in the closet:
“I was just trying to say actors are more effective when they’re a mystery, right?” [Damon] told DeGeneres. “And somebody picked it up and said I said gay actors should get back in the closet. Which is like, I mean it’s stupid, but it is painful when things get said that you don’t believe. You know what I mean? And then it gets represented that that’s what you believe.”
Damon also recalled how earlier in his career, he and his Good Will Hunting co-writer and co-star Ben Affleck dealt with rumors they were gay. He added that in today’s media landscape, “There’s no real penalty for just taking the ball and running with it. You know what I mean? You’re just trying to click on your thing.”
Given his problematic statement on minorities in film, it’s telling that Damon is taking the same stance here, that his comments were misconstrued. Damon may know what he believes on an intellectual level, but he’s made two statements now which seem to contradict that. I would have liked to see more self awareness in his responses to the fallout instead of him simply claiming that we didn’t understand. I could go either way on this but I’d like to hear him take more responsibility for the things he says.
The Daily Beast has an editorial which skewers Damon for his comments to The Guardian. They point out Damon’s hypocrisy. “Damon is preaching about actors’ sexuality being none of the public’s business in the same interview in which he casually talks about his wife, kids, and fatherhood on several occasions. And I would like for someone to convincingly make the case that a straight actor who follows his advice—not talking about being straight—will see his or her career affected in any way by such secrecy about their heterosexuality.” I’m just waiting for Damon to dismiss feminism.
photo credit: WENN.com
Oh Matt, we had so many wonderful years together, where you know, you were quiet and didn’t shove both feet in your mouth within a 2 week period. Please for the love of God stop talking. Ben must be joyful “perfect little Matt” is getting some backlash too.
+1 on the Ben thing haha
Poor Matt. I thought he was too smart to keep getting tripped up like this. I hope he’s not slipping. Someone said he called his Jason Bourne character James Bond the other day on the Graham Norton show.
That said. I don’t know when people started thinking that the more famous and iconic or widely covered you are the less convincing you become to an audience when playing a part in a film. Says who?
That is a very privileged denigrating way to view audiences. It suggests we have no imagination and can’t suspend reality for 90 minutes. I wish some actors and critics would get off that tip. I personally think it’s just a way for people who are not as famous as others to bish and moan and passive aggressively diss superstars. Sorry Matt, but I can watch Inglorious Basterds or Changeling and not see Brangelina changing diapers. I can even watch Gone Girl and not see Affleck kissing Jlo azz on a yacht.
I mean is he forgetting we all know an awful lot about Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Paul Newman? I don’t think of JFK when I watch ‘Some like it hot,’ or think about the 5 documentaries on James Dean when I watch ‘East of Eden,’ or think of Joanne Woodward and Race car driving when I watch ‘Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid,’ or ‘The Sting.’
Because of the most tantalizing camp Bio novel around, ‘Mommy Dearest,’ and the subsequent camp staple film with Faye Dunaway – we can all say Joan Crawfords movies should be completely ruined…and yet ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane,’ still scares all sht outta me…and ‘Mildred Pierce,’ remains a classic.
So let’s put that bs ‘we know too much about them,’ theory to rest.
Face it people who make movies…..some of you will be successful famous actors and some of you will be successful famous iconic actors that audiences ate interested in on and off screen….that has nothing to do with audiences ability to believe in the picture being painted on screen. Stop insulting the audience please, thanks!
Caro, Graham Norton loves to get people a bit sloshed before they go on the show. If Matt had as much to drink as he did last time, he probably didn’t know the difference between Jason Bourne and James Bond.
Ben Affleck must be praying with both hands in thanks for this gift. The flambouyant nanny has gone into hiding, Jennifer Garner makes him only go to the farmer’s market for photo ops, and now his buddy has lassoed the spotlight off him.
Nobody is making Ben go to the Farmers market, have you not seen how many photo ops he has had with those kids in the last two months? Jens not even invited anymore. Its just him mugging for the cameras with a kid on either side of him. But I’m sure he is loving the fall of Damon. Theres a lot of frenemy vibe between those two.
I like that Celebitchy prefaced this with saying she likes Matt Damon so she glossed over some of his comments. I think we all like to explain and dismiss when people we like say stupid/racist/homophobic/whatever dumb thing.
I was watching Top Gun this weekend and I like Tom Cruise then I have to remember what a nut job he is. I do this a lot with Tom Cruise movies.
Matt needs to be careful. He could go down the road of Mel Gibson if you throw in some alcohol.
Oh COME ON!!! Really?
Mel Gibson?!
To me he wasn’t so much suggesting that gay actors keep quiet as he was highlighting the backlash that gay actors got/get in Hollywood in comparison to their heterosexual peers. It’s a valid point. As a newbie in Hollywood he was rumoured to be gay at a time when the likes of Rupert Everett’s career was taking a nosedive for his sexuality. He muddied the issue by suggesting that the less we know about someone the better but maybe, just maybe, he was referring to himself as an early player in the fame game having to address issues about his intimate love life rather than homosexuals as a whole?
2015 has been the year of hyper sensitive political correctness and it looks like its extending to people in a position of privilege are not even allowed to address social issues that don’t directly affect them. How is that going to help anything? So only a POC can bring up racism? Only gay people can bring up sexual discrimination? Only women can discuss feminism. Bullshit.
As a feminist, I’ll tell you right now, the cause is lost if it can never be brought to a universal standard because ‘men can’t experience sexism’ (more bullshit). The same applies for any other issue here. Enough with the policing of discussion of any social issues, how on earth do you expect anyone who is trying to learn about any of these issues actually learn if they get labelled as racists, sexists or homophobes for even bringing up the subject?
You would be surprised. I’m sure no one ever imagined Mel would say those horrible things. We don’t know how these people think.
He is an overly privileged white rich man from Hollywood.
Also Marion Cottilard dismissed feminism as deviding men and women. The idiocy of that women knows no limits. She also said dumb things about 9/11, so not surprising.
LOL there is privlegede in every race.President Obama daughters are benefiting from what you would call black privilege then. They have more privilege then most whites kids in American do. One of them got a gig in Hollywood through connections. Did she work hard for it? No she didn’t.
And what are you hating on Marion for? What did she say?
That’s not black privilege. Every kid growing up in the white house had the same opportunities. They were white btw. Getting a gig through hollywood connections also isn’t black privilege that’s nepotism. Kudos for trying to make it about race.
“Black privilege”
LOL!
I can’t today.
I just cannot and I will not.
You mean I the only thing I was missing in my life was “black privilege”?! Oh how I’ve been cheated!
@Kitten- I’ll stand with you in the CanNot section.
What? Your comment makes me tired. And I have a feeling you are too far gone for anyone to to change your mind. So, good luck with that.
“Black Privilege?”
Girl, you need more people.
Err don’t think Obamas kid getting a leg up in Hollywood has anything to do with race, more like the connections of her parents.
I don’t know- I think he is just being honest and he is very right about what happened to Rupert Everett. I do feel that people want to have their fantasies to have a little hint of possibility and that is hard when it comes to fantasizing about being with a gay man.I do not think that makes a person a homophobe!
Rupert still is an mysignostic as…..e and i write that as a fan.
That doesn’ t has anything to do with his coming out, because he was also an as…..e when he was in the closet.
In regards of his handsomeness, well too many surgerys can ruin any looks and on top of that he was/is addicted to all kinds of Stuff
.
There are a couple well doing out and proud living people, like Nph, John barrowman, adam lambert, Jim parsons etc…..
Matt Dämon has the foot in mouth disease.
Sorry don’t see anything wrong with what he said. People take these interviews way too literary, I get what he meant, let’s not pretend Hollywood is not playing the PC game, NFL said yeah we don’t care about Michael Sam being gay yet he was dropped. He said if he did not come out he could have been playing, is it right? Hell no, but that is the game. Matt of all people had been pushing for gay marriages yes ago, people would not feel the same way about ex…brad Pitt in a hot movie if he were gay, it is visual. Yet, I don’t think people need to know real actors personal bedroom likes, we should want to see them for their craft not their sexuality. But this is Hollywood and they label you like it or not.
The disconnect I believe Matt is experiencing is that he can speak freely of his wife and children without fear of backlash where as a person who doesn’t identify as straight does not have that freedom and is encouraged to actively cover it up or deflect any curiosity about their personal life.
I agree that we know too much about celebrities lives. Honestly most of the people I know about only through what I read about on gossip sites not through any film I have seen or music I have heard and little of it entices me to explore further.
Disconnect? I see awareness. He’s bringing up the panic of having to address gay rumours when his career was just starting when he saw what happened to Rupert Everett for being gay.
He should quit whilst the hole isn’t too deep. Any more #damonsplaining and he’ll be on an apology tour for a long time.
No he won’t. Unfortunately, most people will forget these debacles by this time next week. He’s Mister Congeniality.
I agree. I get where he was going with the Rupert Everett comment and the fact that things are getting better and that’s good. But then he kind of just keeps talking and talking and keeps explaining. He just needs to stop and move on. And go back to being boring. LOL!
I was thinking he was off track with the Rupert Everett comment, my impression has always been there’s a number of factors that might have held him back from big time success. I never thought being out of the closet was one of them. Of course I could be completely naive.
Well – Rupert does have a reputation, right? Sadly, I think LGBT folks (of which my son is one) almost have to be better. Good enough isn’t good enough, So….were Rupert straight, could he have gotten away with more of his diva antics? Or, did his diva antics play into a negative stereotype of a gay man? I guess maybe it is a chicken and the egg thing.
Sometimes our internet boyfriends can be complete tools.
Now if my beloved Hiddles screws up, you many never hear from me again.
Let’s make it simple for gay and straight people. All interviews, press junkets the actors can only talk about the project they are promoting. No comments on their families or spouses, person they are dating. Also no political talk.
Walking the red carpet, or attending an award show they can not bring a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend or family member as a date. They must attend alone. Plus no talk about family or significant others. That seems fair
**** Please note I am being sarcastic *****
But your points are really good.
But then how will they get us to go see their crappy movies year after year?
Those actors who try to do that are deemed secretive and it is assumed they have something to hide. At that point they might as well have a big target tattooed on their butt.
Nice thought but then how would gossip enthusiasts survive? Our fascination is definitely as much about celebs personal lives as their professional projects. Often times, much more so about the personal.
You ain’t lying.
Nah. I’m more interested in the broader conversations that their opinions elicit than I am in them.
It’s no wonder he’s been making himself so boring all these years- maybe he should go back to that for a few more.
Just. Stop. Talking.
Was coming here to post the exact same comment. It’s funny that he won’t follow his own advice on the topic…
Oopsy! FWIW – I think he started out quite well with the getting it that it can be tricky to be gay in Hollywood and then kinda segued into his general view that the more the public know about an actor, the less well an actor can do his/her job, using the former as an example for the latter. I do think the intent was pure. Delivery a total fork up, however.
These celebs. They’re so babied that they think they are cleverer than they are. I think that’s the actual problem here.
No to ANY #celebsplaining. That’s what I say. We Normals know how life is. You lot do not.
Yep yep yep.
I started reading and thinking
“well yeah he’s right. It is hard in Hollywood, it’s still seen as better to stay in the closet for leading men…”
“oh… yeah maybe stop talking”
“no really, stop it”
I agree he started out with good intentions then mucked it up. And that he has been babied and worshipped. He never really paid any dues that I know of. He just came to Hollywood, made a successful movie and went up from there. He has no idea what life is really like. Stop ‘splainin’.
@GoodNamesAllTaken, who wrote: “He just came to Hollywood, made a successful movie and went up from there. He has no idea what life is really like. Stop ‘splainin’.”
Did you actually check Matt Damon’s film history at IMDb before you made this statement? There is a reason why Matt Damon and Ben Affleck had to write and star in their own vehicle.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000354/?ref_=nv_sr_1
No, I didn’t. I was SO off base. The true story – He went to college and acted in three or four fairly successful movies that weren’t huge hits, including Mystic Pizza, then he became a big star. My mistake. He paid tons and tons of dues. So many years of hard work. He’s like one of those guys who struggles for twenty years without getting a role and works as a waiter to feed himself and lives out of his car. The guy has been getting roles in movies since the day he started trying. He was skipping classes in college to act in movies. Do you have any idea how many people that happens to? One – Matt Damon. I was wrong about the number of movies he acted in before he became a star. But he hasn’t paid any dues in his charmed life.
I agree gnat.
But thanks so much for your wisdom Damon, so glad you are setting us straight.
@GNAT LOL. I LOVE IT!
Spot on GNAT. Plus, It really gets on my nerves when people talk about the artistic integrity of people like Damon or people like Tom Hiddleston, who moved from a ridiculously privileged home into a profession overflowing with people who went to the same school. They seem to be be very nice people but it has never been a choice of doing a job purely for money or not eating. Or in later life at last having the chance to make some money that will give the kids the chance to go to college or perhaps even give them a chance to have the children which they could not afford to have when you were struggling to get work. They have had a charmed life and I really hope they appreciate it, but it doesn’t give them the right to preach to others. PS – I am not aware of Hiddleston ever preaching, he was just an example of another form of privilege in Hollywood.
Ha ha..Go, GNAT!
He may have had good intentions but the fact that he is completely unaware of how condescending his actual comments are shows the bubble he lives in. The Daily Beast did skewer him but every comment to the article on Facebook defended Damon and blasted the Daily Beast. Matt Damon will be just fine. His explanation will be accepted by most and there will be no need for introspection on his part. He will continue to believe that he is highly intelligent (which he may be) and that his celebrity allows him and even requires him to share his “enlightened” views with the rest of the world with no need to consider that he just might be wrong sometimes. I hope privately he is reconsidering far more than he is publicly.
Yes. You’ve said it so well. I kinda hope the same for him and that he actually is an intelligent guy who can handle criticism. But I’m doubtful.
I would appreciate him so much more if he called out hollywood execs for assuming that gay can only play gay or audiences as well. That is much more daring. Like acknowledge the truth but criticise the system that holds it in place.
This. Spot on Lucinda.
He suffers from a severe case of mansplaining, whitesplaining, straightsplaining and colorblindness. Now he’s also posing as a victim of the mean Internet because we all know straight married white dudes are the true oppressed ethnic and sexual group. Because people complain on message boards. It’s must be so hard to be part of the establishment. Who made Damon the moral compass of Hollywood. These dudes cast themselves in victim poses yet have access to everything.
“Damon is preaching about actors’ sexuality being none of the public’s business in the same interview in which he casually talks about his wife, kids, and fatherhood ”
BOOM!
there is really nothing that you could say against that.
WORD.
He needs to haw several seats or go away.
He ain’t all that anyways. Everybody knows that. Please.
Exactly. He sees the world one way. That’s his opinion, but he doesn’t seem to get how it’s just ONE opinion. How many more times is he going to lay down the “correct” way to be famous or make movies or just be an artist generally for the rest of Hollywood?
@ Heather you’re right….and it’s unexpected coming from a guy who goes out of his way to be boring & not say much….I think we’re accidentally seeing a lot of the real Damon these days.
That is exactly the petard that hoists him high: the privilege and the prejudice are exposed in his assumptive normality and repeated mentions of his own.
And that we all know he’s hetero but played gay makes him a great actor and nomination worthy, but for a gay man like Everett to be cast in a straight role is … too difficult for all of us to wrap our heads around and get to say, “wow, he’s a great actor. He was completely convincing in the part.”
So, it only works in one direction?
BTW, I’ve seen Everett playing straight and found him very believable and very enjoyable. I would fantasize about a straight Everett character over any I’ve seen Damon play any day.
Wow I always pegged Mark Wahlberg as the next Charlton Heston.
Heston at least was a true movie star, Wahlberg is ???????????????
Heston was a bad actor just like Wahlberg is.
Bit off topic but in the excellent documentary about Harry Belafonte Hear my Song it references that Heston was one of the actors involved in civil rights marches in the early 1960s. Whatever his opinions now, kudos to him for putting his head above the parapet then.
Except it’s even worse because Damon says this crap but hides behind a self-righteous liberal facade.
The American Liberals I’ve come across are materialists or hedonists or both.
And American conservatives are ignorant anti-women, anti-gay, selfish and self-loathing hypocrites, so what’s your point?
One of these days we will stop looking at actors as a source of inspiration and worthy role models. Because, by and large, they are not. They share the same foibles and weaknesses and prejudices as the rest of humanity, maybe with some extra hubris thrown in because they are famous, rich and spoiled. There are of course a few exceptions, but why do we expect so much from people whose only accomplishment is being able to read lines?
That being said, if you are asked questions and have to say words, please take the trouble to come up with either intelligent or at least inoffensive answers.
Personally I may just be tired of so much meaness and stupidity and maybe I can’t summon the energy but to me it just sounded like a stupid answer not a really homophobic one. I think what he was trying to say is two things but of course he scrambled them up.
1. As an actor it is easier to disappear into a role if you are mystery to the public.
2. Being out hurts you in HW in terms of how big you can make it.
I think both statements are true, but while one is ok (be a mystery please, I am tired of knowing everything about everyone) the other obviously is wrong and must change and we should work towards that. Legal gay marriage is just the first step. (Rupert btw is a bad example, what with his foot in the mouth disease and his surgeries…)
There Matt, I fixed it for you…. And if we misunderstood it is not us being stupid, it is you not being articulate enough.
That’s what I think also.
Good post.
I am sorry, but I always find it funny when posters complane about knowing too much about actors and when they praise those “super private ones”, while, at the same time, they are reading and posting on gossip site that discusses private lives of those people, like 99% of the time. So, I would assume that anyone posting here, in fact enjoys that, because if they don’t – they wouldn’t be here.
Damon was doing the complaining, not vauvert.
First, I think we discuss a lot more than the private lives of celebrities on here. Sexism, racism, patriotism, parenting, and the all important fashion, to name a few. Second, I can only speak for myself, but when I complain about it, it’s usually because I’m disappointed in the views of someone I liked. I just wish they wouldn’t discuss things they know nothing about and come off like idiots. I wish they wouldn’t think their success made them experts on life.
@GoodNamesAllTaken
Yeah, discussion leads a lot of times to sexism, racism, patriotism, parenting, etc., but they come from discussing celebrity and pop culture, which is totally fine – this is Celebitchy! I never said that discussions are not relevant or interesting. The thing that I find hypocritical is praising privacy of public personas while enjoying discussing and analyzing everything that is known about them, even gossip, which is most of time fabricated.
@Sixer
“…(be a mystery please, I am tired of knowing everything about everyone)…”
There are lots of actors – whom I admire as exactly that, actors – who will probably never make this site except from a random red carpet, symposium or promotional event attached to a specific project.
Knowing some personal things about an actor can sometimes enhance my experience of watching them at what they do, but – if given the choice – I’d rather digest that information after digesting a performance. Finding out something terribly creepy or unappetizing CAN affect me and my enjoyment of their work, I admit.
That doesn’t keep me from also enjoying silly gossip, speculation & fashion talk about other actors and celebrities whom I’m never going to have to worry about believing, working with or wanting to see in a role – or admiring as a role model of talent and professionalism and social consciousness – or agreeing with on anything, for that matter.
DianeM
I get what you’re saying, I just disagree with you. I don’t think it’s hypocritical to enjoy celebrity gossip but still be annoyed when celebrities think they are experts on how everyone else should live their lives.
DianeM:
A couple of things… There are topics that belong on a gossip site – details about the movie, the character, the filming, fashion, stuff about themselves they feel ok sharing – Angie talking about why she chose to have a double mastectomy comes to mind. Others, not so much – hence my comment about “be a mystery”.
In general I think that celebs tend to commit two sins: over share and pontificate which are both annoying. Why does someone like JLaw need to tell us about her farts, ffs?? How is that relevant, useful, informative or amusing? I don’t care what foods give you gas, or whether you wet the bed until you were a teen, or a whole lot of other things that are entirely human but we do not need to know – whether the person sharing is a celeb, our neighbour or a former high school classmate.
Also, I object to the prevailing theory that just because someone can learn lines they are automatically experts on everything from feminism to cleanses or parenting. Yes, these are people with platform, but that does not mean the celebs are in any way experts on the topic.
So yes, I would prefer that many celebs keep a lot of these opinions to themselves and I personally do not see any hypocrisy in liking a gossip site and not needing to know everything, both facts and opinions about a celebrity. We obviously disagree about it, which is no skin off my nose. Additionally, I happen to like this site because the readers who comment here are intelligent, well educated, witty, and I love the exchange of ideas, not to mention the banter.
Anyway, I am off to Lilacflowers’ veranda for a cold drink and a hot appetizers to further discuss the limits of gossip…
Yep. This.
Great post.
Yes. And interestingly, RPattz is being slammed in the comments on his post about not having enough substance in his interviews. I contend he’s being guarded and smart by keeping things inane. No Sparklesplaining, no internet backlash. I think he gets it.
I have the sense that he casts a cold eye on the entire process… and therefore gets it more than most (with professional publicists and coaches and whatnot) ever will.
I read the interview in the Guardian yesterday and thought the Rupert Everett comment would be so depressing for young gay actors to see, especially in Hollywood.
Maybe I’m reading between the wrong lines here but after these comments I’m even more convinced Matt is ‘Cuba’ in Lainey’s BV from a few years back.
What’s this Cuba blind? Tell me more! 🙂
“When Ben and I first came on the scene there were rumours that we were gay because it was two guys who wrote a script together” ….this is nonsense.
There are many writing partners, producing partners, etc. & there aren’t rumors about them. If there were rumors about Ben & Matt early on, there was likely a reason that had nothing to do with being script-writing partners. It also lends an interesting angle to his ‘hide your sexuality’ comments.
To be fair to Matt Damon the remarks about Rupert Everett coming out and ruining his career come from Rupert himself. He said precisely that in interviews and added that he wouldn’t advise any actor to come out. As for the rest, MD has wedged his feet firmly in his mouth.
This isn’t the first time he’s preached about other people needing to live their lives a certain way but he doesn’t follow those same teaching. For example, how he got on his high horse about people needing to send their kids to public school and doing PSA about it, but come to find out he sends his kids to private school . When confronted by his hypocrisy he said something to the effect of the private school he sends his kids to is the closest thing to public school he went to as a kid that he could find. Basically not really giving a good reason why public schools in his area weren’t good enough for his kids, but were good enough for everyone else’s kids.
So this is par the course for Matt, but unlike other celebs he was constantly given a free pass and only now is being called out for his two-faced, do as I say not as I do ways.
Also like I said in my comment on his thread yesterday about his “hiding” comment, he only added in straight people need to hide just so he wouldn’t come off homophobic because if he really believed what he said he wouldn’t constantly talk about his ” civilian” wife and bring her to events.
He is a limousine liberal. The rules are only for the peasants not him. Leo DiCaprio going around on yachts and private planes but everyone else should hoof it on foot.
Also known as LINO or a PINO, which is my opinion is worst than a RINO.
I’m going to show my age here but a quote from the original 1992 Real World on MTV by Andre about his band and fame has stuck with me so much that I still remember it word for word.
“I’m not a role model, I never wanted to be a role model. Role models are parents, they’re neighbours who’ve got something good to say. They’re not sports starts, they’re not rock stars and they’re not musicians…”
I only wish we lived in a society that valued the non celebs for the good work they do and stopped putting so much weight on what these people say and do.
+100000- yes..
+freaking infinity
IMO the problem that he was trying to highlight is that people in the US are obsessed with sexuality to the point where some actors are only known for being gay or lesbian. Everytime I read something about NPH or Ellen Page, their sexuality is always mentioned. It’s like their sexuality takes over their identity. It’s not like that with straight actors. It’s no surprise actors like Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart or Kevin Spacey have always refused to come out, if they did they would get less offers.
I hear you. But perhaps it will just take time for the actors homosexuality to disappear from audience consciousness. It seems to have happened for Anderson Cooper. Realistically though, I doubt that will happen for actors who play romantic leads – the brain just naturally steers to “hes gay, right?” In that specific circumstance.
I have never watched How I met your mother with NPH or White Collar with Matt Bomer.For people who watch those shows was it difficult to accept them as believable when they were kissing their female co stars?
Colette – I watched How I Met Your Mother on the regular and absoluelty love NPH and feel he was amazing as the womanizing character. No problem at all accepting. Like I didn’t even think about it.
But I will share two stories to also address your question:
1) Just recently when I was recommending using Netflix or syndication to watch How I Met Your Mother to someone I know well, I was surprised to hear her say “I just can’t get into it because in know NPH is gay and so I just can’t buy him as that character”. I was pretty taken aback and used all kinds of example to point out that she accepts actors playing characters (i.e. this guy played a drug addict, this guy was a psycho, this guy was an abuser and she accepts they are not like that in real life). But nope, the sexuality thing was a full stop. Ugh,
2) A few years ago, my husband and I were sitting near a group of moms on our kid’s soccer field. They had just heard a movie for Fifty Shades was being made and were all sharing ideas for a leading man. When several agreed it should be Matt Bomer (lots of comments on how hot he is), one woman said “You know he’s gay right? Like married with kids gay” All the other women were crestfallen and pretty much agreed there was no way he could be “their Christian Grey” if he wasn’t hetero.
So yeah, it’s sad but still true, for some folks, sexuality does get in the way.
I dont know about White Collar, but with NPH the HIMYM boards (which are usually just a bunch of super fans) were always filled with comments declaring “he is pretty convincing considering he is gay” or “I totally bought it even though I know he is gay”. Which basically means that those viewers, however well intentioned, werent able to shut down the knowledge that he is gay. If you are having a yeah-I’m-buying-this moment during a love scene it means you are not immersed in the show and thats a problem that straight or closeted actors wouldnt face.
@Collette I was a big fan of White Collar and I didn’t think it was an issue at all. Bomer had better chemistry with his first love interest than his second (I was an Alex fan, Sarah not so much) but that’s just as common for straight actors.
Now mind you I’m also not one of these obsessed fan girls tweeting “NOTICE ME!!” at their favorite stars and writing real person fanfic; so I may not be the best example.
Do you think it also can have something to do with franchises, famous serials, and fans wanting couples onscreen to be couples elsewhere? I believe it happened for Twilight, and I know it happens amongst rabid Outlander fans who freak about questioning the sexuality of the actor playing Jamie, or anyone who doubts there is an off-screen romance between him and the lead actress.
You’re right. It the mind set of the public makes actors afraid of being type cast. The rate of people that have trouble distinguishing actors from their private persona is alarming.
I just read and watched a dozen recent interviews with Ellen and NPH,not one of them mentioned their sexuality.Unless you mean mentioning their spouse and kids is mentioning their sexuality.If that is the case than recent interviews with Ryan Reynolds,Rob Lowe,Tom Hanks,etc where they discuss their wife and kids is mentioning their sexuality.This reminds of a job I had where a co worker complained a gay guy was flaunting his homosexuality because he had a picture of his boyfriend on his desk.I asked her,”Are you flaunting your heterosexuality with those pictures of your husband,kids,and grandkids on your desk?” She didn’t get it.
I wasn’t talking about myself you know. But, a lot of people have admitted that they can’t accept the idea of a gay actor playing straight.
You have to remember that Hollywood makes a lot of money abroad and it’s difficult for them to cast an openly gay actor in a rom com or an action movie because there’s still homophobia in certain parts of the world.
Then blame the friggin audience don’t tell the people who suffer it. Damon should be actively trying to change that. But dude has had his d sucked so many times he’s incapable of even trying beyond being an “ally” for gay marriage and for NEVER admitting that maybe he said something stupid and it didn’t create the cultural spotlight on an issue. Matty D needs some goddamn humble pie.
I always found this guy fake. He is like Goop, always preaching as if he is better, well he keeps his affairs better hidden than his nanny loving best bro but his hypocrisy is hilarious. He dumped Minnie Driver on Oprah.
Minnie Driver said they had already broke up.He didn’t dump her on Oprah,he just announced they were over on Oprah.
I’m in complete agreement that maintaining some anamonimity increases an actors allure in roles. He’s just not following his own advice, I think he’s being sincere and just used a bad analogy to
“damonstrate”
The jokes write themselves…
Interesting coming from him. I’m pretty sure he’s the answer to Lainey’s Cuba and Chocolate blind (He’s allegedly Cuba).
Ugh.
I agree with him about the backlash Rupert received for being openly gay, but that was also like 20 years ago. He reached peak fame, and then couldn’t get straight roles…probably because he was out. BUT, I feel like a lot changed because of that. People began supporting gay actors better after that, and a lot more people came out. To say that 20 years later, people still need to hide who they are in order to be successful (in any industry) is a terrible example to give to the next generation.
Maybe he should just talk about his films, ‘like,, you know what I mean?’ Celebs continually put their well-heeled foot in their mouths, but some people still listen as if they were blessed with divine wisdom. Strange.
And then it comes out our beloved Damon is actually a douche… siigh, I’m so disappointed!!
Regardless of all the experience he’s had giving interviews he seems to have chronic “foot in the mouth” disease. I look forward to him getting dragged on the internet for this one too.
I understand his point so call me crazy. Mystique means so much sometimes.
Well just waiting for Damon’s thoughts on women and Jews. His movie is not out yet…there’s time! Yikes.
As an aside, Rupert Everett is not a good example at all because:
1. He’s well known to be difficult and a bit nasty (see also: Heigel, Katherine); and more importantly..
2. His break out role was 18 years ago! The best example you have is 18 years ago?
And he ruined his face with bad plastic surgery.
You’re right. Actors have a short span in Hollywood. The only ones that survive are the character actors.
Between the Mattsplaining and Cottilard’s stupidity I think I might need something stronger in my coffee today
Is he trying to help his bro Ben out by acting like even more of an a??hole?
Yup, he’s speaking out of privilege. Yup, this article and the The Daily Beast totally have a valid point about how his point about sexuality doesn’t stand up to scrutiny and is hypocritical given that he talks about his straight family all the freaking time.
But I like that he’s talking. You know, it’s better to speak, be wrong, hear the counter opinion and then change your stance. And, yes, I know he hasn’t modified his position yet. But then I don’t know very many people who change their position mid-argument. Most people defend their dumbaszery and then modify their position in later arguments.
He’s not that far off reality. Being gay destroys the career of actors and Rupert Everett is a prime example of someone who lost his golden boy status when he came out. In a TOTALLY UNRELATED note, it’d be nice for actors to have some mystery to them… makes it easier to buy into the characters they play. I prefer total unknowns for this reason.
To quote Mia4S above (As an aside, Rupert Everett is not a good example at all because
1. He’s well known to be difficult and a bit nasty (see also: Heigel, Katherine); and more importantly..
2. His break out role was 18 years ago! The best example you have is 18 years ago?)
Yet you like the rest of us, are on a celebrity gossip site.
Yeah, the industry has definitely changed. You know openly gay actors nowadays can play rom-com leads and star in action franchises! Like, you know, eh…. hmm…. how was this guy called… eh….
Wentworth Miller, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto, David Hyde Pierce, Ellen Page and
Portia de Rossi just to name a few.
None of those are A-Listers. The one with the most success career-wise in your list is Ellen, who had her most prominent roles before coming out. Actually, pretty much everyone in that list booked their most well-known role before coming out.
@ Josefa
I agree completely. There’s not a single gay leading man who does action and who can open a movie. I don’t see that changing in my life time to be honest. The definition of an action star – somebody who can make as much bank as Tom Cruise or Will Smith or play James Bond or whatever – is that men want to be him and women want to be with him. And it’s just not going to happen with a openly gay leading man. Should an actor’s sexuality play a part in his/her career? No, of course not. It should be about the acting talent. And for a character actor (Ian McKellen, Zachary Quinto, David Hyde Pierce etc) it is. For a leading man/A-list movie star, sadly, not so much. I mean, do people really think that all those 15 year old girls would have lost their shit if Pattinson was gay? That all those men who adore Bond would adore him still if the JB actor was photographed holding hands with another man? Movie stardom isn’t acting per se, it’s more than that, it’s the whole package deal which is why unfortunately we hear so much about celebrities private lives – no matter how manufactured for public consumption that life is. And to be absolutely clear, I don’t agree with it, it stinks, but is is what it is.
It’s funny you mention Cruise and Will Smith, both of whom have gay rumours tied to them and links to Scientology.
I think Matt Bomer would be a great action hero and hot enough for the ladies too…. But for many his being out means they can never think of him that way. And internationally it is a bigger issue where in many countries being gay is still illegal much less frowned upon
I really just think you shouldn’t take your cues from actors. Morgan Freeman has irritated me on race and everyone loves him. Why should he be an authority just because he’s a black actor? Same for Damon. He’s a white straight dude. He’s trying to be sympathetic, but he hasn’t had those experiences. Ppl are starting to learn too much about him now.
A few of us noted this yesterday. His stance on that made no sense to me, because he and other heterosexuals bring their significant others to red carpet events, occasionally talk about them in interviews.
But I really took it that he completely misspoke when trying to make some good points and went too far when trying to explain and ended up making no sense . As it turns out, he’s not the most eloquent speaker. LOL
#howdoyoulikethemapples?
I actually laughed out loud. Thanks for that.
In context, I think he was just referring to the reality that being openly gay can still have an impact on what kind of roles you will be offered. It isn’t as bad as it was a few decades ago, but I don’t think we’ve reached a point where everybody doesn’t care. How many times have people on this site endlessly speculated about whether or not so-and-so is gay? If it really didn’t matter, nobody would be speculating since unless you’re contemplating that person as a mate, there’s no reason to know. I’ve never seen any speculation about whether so-and-so was a secret birdwatcher, for example, because nobody really cares about that.
I’m an LGBT woman and I completely understood his point. The whole argument he was giving was that the less people know about an actor the more beleivable he is in roles. How that translates to “stay in the closet forever you fagg*t!!”, I don’t understand. And, eh… it’s a well known fact that when actors come out of the closet their careers take a hit. How many Marvel superheroes are openly gay? How many gay dudes have been nominated for acting oscars in the past 5 years?
That’s not true. Ian McKellen has been out for decades ,his career is fine. Neil Patrick Harris is still working. Rupert Everett’s career took a hit not because he’s gay but because he’s a jerk.
So it’s mere coincidence that every single actor who plays the lead in big rom-coms and action franchises happens to be straight?
Ian was not publically out for a long time, and he said he regrets it.
Neil came out after being established for a long time in his womanizer role, and much has been made of how his career didn’t explode. Much has been made of it because that wouldn’t be the norm. But, let’s face it, Neil isn’t out there in lead roles in movies, is he? So he’s a different kind of actor. A character actor in movies and a Broadway actor, which I believe is more accepted in the theatre anyway.
A leading man, such as a romantic actor or even dramas and action heros, etc., I do believe would be greatly affected.
@ Josefa.
Ah, I should have posted my reply here. I totally agree. Damon is talking about employment realities. To be blunt, if you are leading man material your career will take a hit if you come out. And no, Ian McKellen was never the romantic lead (except on Brit TV and in the theatre) and Neil Patrick Harris is a song and dance man – totally different ball game. Commenters are not comparing like and like.
Josefa’s initial comment said nothing about leading men or romantic leads. The comment was actors take a hit after they come out. That part of her comment wasn’t true. Those examples I gave. Read and understand before you try to undermine what I’ve said.
@ FingerBinger
She’s talking about Marvel Superheroes – which by definition are leading men/the romantic lead?
I’m not aware that I responded to your post and I don’t think you could feel undermined by one – quite civil – comment on a forum, surely?
@FingerBinger
My initial comment referred to the meatiest roles in the industry. Do you think they would’ve cast a gay dude to play Christian Grey, Iron Man, Superman, Chris Kyle, James Bond, or Batman? Sure, you can still have a career if you’re gay. But there’s not many of them and their careers are not that big. It’s like saying Judi Dench and Helen Mirren star in films regularly, so women over 60 don’t have it that hard.
I think people are just on a witch hunt here. He put his foot in his mouth once and now EVERYTHING he says is taken out of context. I think he should just be quiet for about 6 months and do no interviews, etc and let people forget about him for awhile or at this rate he’s not going to have much of a career with this momentum building.
Idek, people need to just not say anything anymore because everyone gets offended by everything now.
+1
Seriously? I think you guys are reading too much into this. He is right. Gay actors have a really hard time once they come out. He is not saying that he has a problem with gay actors. He is saying that society does.
On the larger question of what we know of actors and their personal life, he is right too. I don’t think he is specifically speaking of sexuality. I think in context, he is talking about all actors and their personal lives. I agree with him. I met a famous actor in RL and we were friends for a while (don’t ask, not telling). His actual personality ruined the amazing characters he inhabited. Frankly, the less I know about an actor, the more I am inclined to believe them as a character. Think Tom Cruise. He is an amazing actor and in different genres. But his religious idiocy and personal life have made it impossible for me to watch him in anything. If I knew nothing about his role in Scientology and his way of finding wives, I would continue being a fan. Now, I can’t. So yeah, Damon has a point and it is not directed at the GLBT community. Context is everything.
Double standards galore. Years ago people were all “oh, Matt Bomer would be the perfect Christian Grey! He’d be the perfect Superman! But it’ll never happen because he’s openly gay”. Now society is all accepting about gay actors, coming out doesn’t shock anyone and they have no trouble booking big straight guy roles., so Damon is clearly a homophobe. Yeah, right.
^^^ Agree.
Well, yes, on the one hand, he is absolutely right. But on the other, the end of his ramble is a shrug and “well, what can you do?” acceptance about how it all works. Like it’s a mysterious and powerful OZ that you can’t question or have an opinion about changing it. You can and you should…if it matters at all to you.
No, you can’t change public perception. If you’ve demonstrated you’re an a-hole in public, it might be harder for people to picture you as a stand-up moral character. Or not. That’s why it’s called acting.
And here’s the thing: it’s perfectly ok for us to know how hetero Damon is and nominate him for playing a gay man so brilliantly, but it’s soooooooo hard for us to watch a gay man play a straight role and think, “aaaah, great acting, completely had me convinced.” That’s a double standard and it’s horsesh!t. By definition, actors are not playing themselves. If the script and direction and actors are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, we the audience should be able to suspend our disbelief for 2 hours and let the characters be characters in the story.
Course, I’m not saying we the audience can’t decide it’s not working for us, but Hollywood gatekeepers are certainly NOT representative of the entire viewing public. The fact that women-led movies have so infrequently been greenlit until the last couple of years is one way in which the voice of the masses has been able to turn Hollywood (albeit slowly) around to the idea that what they thought was a given is not a given and they don’t know the public taste the way they think they do.
The public is not representative of the entire public. In a country where gay marriage is legal, the entire cult of crazy is hailing Kim Davis as a hero.
I get what he was saying – like we all know Mel Gibson’s private life so it would be hard to buy him as Mr. Charming in a rom-com role at this point. Audiences determine this, not Matt Damon.
I feel for him. They sit in interview after interview in obligation to promote their film, and the wolves are just waiting to pounce. Don’t be too hard on Bourne- we don’t want him to go Beyoncé on us, do we?
I don’t disagree with what he said. So he has opinions and expresses them, what is wrong with that? Nowadays everyone gets backlash for saying anything at all. He didn’t say that it is wrong to be gay, but he is stating a fact that if you do come out as gay it affects the roles you get in Hollywood. That is the culture. And I agree, that doesn’t mean you don’t come out, it just means that you think about how that is going to impact your career and what is more important to you. I don’t get the backlash against him for speaking his mind. What is wrong with that? We call Hollywood fake, but when people speak their mind we get upset.
Am I missing something here? Too much media, so many chances for words to be misconstrued…
“But in terms of actors, I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”
As for the first part, didn’t most of us here agree yesterday that the less we know about actors’ private lives, the easier it is for us to believe and accept them in their on-screen roles? Period, end of sentence.
And as for the rest, I don’t think he’s at all saying that gay actors should stay in the closet, but perhaps acknowledging that human sexuality is a fluid thing. It’s not about being gay or not-gay, and haven’t we seen that with the LGBT movement that there are many more shades in between? I think he may actually be responding more to the recent Tom Hardy dustup, where the actor was provoked to defend his own sexuality and somehow expected to answer for all celebrities, as if anyone could really do that?
It just so happens that Matt has been now questioned on two current and controversial social issues, and he’s sort of damned-if-does-damned-if-he-doesn’t in the way he responds. That he dares to even try and express a thoughtful opinion, though, he gets jumped on for everything.
Or maybe I’m just #laurasplaining. Fire away!
It really bugs me that we’re only supposed to be positive and great about this guy. Like he’s an infalliable human being who we simply misunderstand. Like really? Seriously why can’t he just say. I really don’t mean sh-t like that. I just said it in the dumbest way. Lol I have no sympathy for Matty d whatsoever. I’m glad people are knocking him off the pedestal because HE DOES NOT NEED TO BE ON THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE and yet no one ever complained about that. He’s an actor and fancies himself an intellectual (LMAO). Criticism is a part of the job. He can learn to handle a bit of it so that he can be an eloquent, articulate speaker. He obviously can’t handle that.
People don’t need to worry for too long. This jackass will be fine. He’ll do a bit where he’s In on the joke (because that’s really only ever the time matty has a sense of humor about himself) and people will move on.
Why do you bother replying to me when you don’t respond to anything in my comment?
I’m gonna try really hard to be calm. I will say I’m biased because I HATE MATT DAMON. I like Affleck so much more.
Look I see what people are saying and I get that he had a certain intention in what he wanted to say. But just really why can he not just admit that this is what I really wanted to say but I stated it in a dumb way. Like really?! Is it REALLY that hard for matty ds ego to actually admit he said something stupid. Can his ego really not handle it if every word out of his stupid toxed smug face isn’t somehow helping us plebeians realize how much we need him to ignite conversation. And obviously he’s not alone. Last few posts there were people actually saying what a noble man he is because obviously he knows what he wants to say a hes a good egg, he’s just taking the heat for Ben or helping a conversation get attention. LOL. How much of a delusional fan do you have to be? Someone is up there and wants to give cookies for him talking about this…..I mean really? We legitimately throw actresses for saying MUCH less under the bus and criticize them till we find the next one. But look how so many people across the Internet WANT to massage matty ds ego and protect his feefees. Even HE can’t handle criticism. No offense but what he’s stated in response to the controversy doesn’t really indicate that he’s a particularly humble dude as he surely believes of himself and wants us to believe.
Matt consistently throws his friends under the bus and tries to show us what a normal it he is. He’s not a normal guy. Matt Damon believes Matt Damon is a god amongst men. Matt Damon is always an eloquent speaker and we just misunderstand him because you know we just don’t get how awesome Matt Damon is but we should because he’s Matt Damon. A generic pretty white boy whose grown up with the entire world telling him how smart he is and pretty and funny and progressive that he’s reached a point where he thinks he’s the standard to which YOU ALL (you included Ben) should subscribe.
Guess that trying really hard to be calm didn’t work so well, huh?
Yeah I probably didn’t succeed. I thought it was much calmer considering I had a sexually charged insult earlier. But oh god the horror. There’s someone who literally can’t stand Matt Damon. I think my criticism of Hollywood has been fairly consistent. I deplore the pedestals we put these people on for being the least.
You’re mad at me for not responding to anything in your comment. Did you read mine? I don’t disagree that Matt Damon did not mean to suggest that gay people remain in the closet. But I wish he would see that he’s not mr. right all the time and acknowledge that he put it in a dumb way. No he wants everyone to believe he’s being persecuted and his words were misconstrued.
Here’s the other thing. He goes on how you should have an air of mystery (which he really doesn’t) and about how if you’re gay, straight,, whatever people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality. But he literally has NEVER had to do that. Is HE hiding his sexuality or making sure people don’t know about it? Not really. So him saying people shouldn’t know is a bit rich considering the industry he works in the and gossip that surrounds a celeb. And it’s freaking hard for people to not know anything about your sexuality. I used to believe it’s something you can hide. I don’t agree with that anymore at all. He said a stupid thing and it could reveal some deeper privilege or blindspot of his. Seriously is it hard for him to realize that? And how about being criticial of the system that enforces it? No, he seemed to stop at a certain point.
I don’t think he’s saying that gay actors should remain in the closet or just shut up about their sexuality. But he’s not exactly saying anything enlightening either. And yet you still want to prescribe some noble motivation when he hasn’t really given us any at all with your Tom Hardy reference. Did you read my comment where that aspect of Damon’s defenders annoyed the sh-t out of me. You’re not the only one to do it.
It just so happens that Matt has now been questioned on two current and controversial social issues and people are realizing he’s not the liberal savior we (and possibly he) all thought. Lol thoughtful opinion. Okay. What you’re asking people to do is give this guy cookies for trying to express a thoughtful opinion. Really? He gets jumped on for everything? LMAO. Please go through Damon’s history on this website and the internet. This man has a fragile ego. He’s rarely been criticized and I think it’s gotten to him that not everyone believes he’s a god. I think my criticism was fairly straightforward in your response to your comment. He should not be on that pedestal in the first place. He’s a big boy he can learn to take some criticism without people defending it as furthering some noble cause, JUST like people gladly sang his praises for so many years. He never seemed to mind it then. Wouldn’t a humble, down-to-earth guy, be a little wary of that kind of blind love?
But wait. This is just me #korrasplaining. Fire away!
Edit: But seriously I really shouldn’t waste my time on this basic af man.
Sorry to hear about your sexually charged insult, Korra, as you’re obviously very upset about it, but it makes no sense to take out your anger on me. Okay, I got it, you don’t like Matt Damon…
But if I could add to what I wrote above, the bigger questions are these: Why is there such a witchhunt in Hollywood for who’s gay/not gay, with actors being forced to explain or defend their own sexuality? Is it any wonder why then those who are not on the straight and narrow do stay in the closet? And if half of Hollywood, or so it seems, is gay, lesbian, bi or otherwise, then why is there so much homophobia here? Who’s pressuring actors to stay in the closet, is it studio heads, agents, managers, PR reps, etc.?
It’s up to the powers-that-be to change things, resisting or challenging whatever notions they have of what audiences want. And as for us, instead of fixating and jumping on every little thing an actor says, we should be talking about the broader issues of diversity in storytelling, behind the camera and what or who we want to see on-screen.
Unfortunately, when you focus on your obvious hatred for Matt Damon and then redirect it at me, it only obfuscates any opportunity for open discussion with someone who might actually agree with what you have to say. Please really try to calm down and have a nice day.
Eyeroll laura. I was fairly calm and I think I’ve addressed it in several comments that I wish he criticized the system. You know that these conversations occur simulatneously on all these boards? Yes my hatered is obvious. But everyone on here has some particular celeb that annoys the bejeesus out of them. MD is mine. But my criticism has been VERY clear. You’re right I could put it more nicely. I guess then is when you’ll be more open to it right?
Being critical of someone in a position of power who says obtuse things like that is important. Is he not a producer, writer, and will potentially be a director? It’d be nice that he’s open to criticism instead of so blatantly dismissive of it because a lot of the criticism isn’t exactly wrong. He misspoke, that’s fine. I wish he would say that. I wish he would SHOW that he’s an introspective, intelligent person by listening to criticism and offering a thoughtful response instead of being a defensive wuss about it.
And no. I couldn’t care less that the way I went about addressing it annoys you. I’m not obfuscating anything, my criticism is fairly clear. You keep trying to obfuscate because you want to defend Damon and derail the conversation as if we’re not focusing on the important aspects of it. This is one aspect of the conversation. Trust me this conversation is happening on a regular basis and LOL I am so not the one who is preventing it. Damon in his position of power has quite a bit to learn.
You have a great day too.
Well, I guess you’re the authority here, having spent so much time googling all of Matt’s interviews…
Maybe your opinion would be better received if you would “learn” to express yourself in a less hostile, angry way?
Or perhaps try Xanax.
…it’s cute how you think your snide remarks and that #laurasplaining dig were anything less than hostile and intentionally rude.
Continue to be as bland and obtuse as damon laura. Ain’t nobody standing in your way.
If you took my very first comment as rude and directed at you, then that’s your problem, and it seems you’re the one who’s obtuse.
Seriously, Korra, get over yourself.
??????
Jesus christ am I sorry for getting into it with a Damon defender. I didn’t take them as directed at me. I do think it was a snide remark at people who were offended and criticizing him and refusing to look at the criticism in general. Dude I will readily admit my dislike of this man is deep (which I did) and you are more than free to ignore me and take up someone like Lucinda who was able to say exactly what I want to say in the nicest most respectable way possible. I’m not really here to be nice. I’m here to be snarky and express criticism of people who I personally think get such a pass it’s ridiculous. I also think there’s some confusion here. My comment (#40) up above wasn’t directed at you but someone else. I didn’t even see your post until after mine posted. So no. I didn’t stake you out as a target, you’re just repeating a lot of the same things as other people have.
I don’t see what makes you better than me though since you’re being just as rude, snipy, and bitchy but trying to “call” me out on it. It’s hypocritical no to pretend that you’re not doing the exact same thing? That you’re also not showing hostility. My initial response to your comment (not comment 40) also wasn’t directed as a dig, it merely was frustration. You chose to see it as a dig, that’s fine and continued to make digs as well. We ain’t really that different girl! Let’s hug it out.
But seriously you need to chill more than me. Matt Damon will be more than fine. I’ll continue to stew, but Matt Damon will once again be exalted and held up as a paragon for virtue and goodness like he and you want and I’ll just have to shut my mouth like I did for years and hear it. I’ll still see The Martian because I don’t dislike MD enough to not see his films, nor do I think his comments are so bad that I’m going to boycott his movies lmao. Pretty boy still annoys me. You and SillySimone can take comfort in that. It’ll all work out in your favor.
I don’t think he said anything stupid. As I have said, context. If this makes your blood boil and you really “hate” this person you don’t even know, I’m not sure what to say to you. This is hardly anything to get upset about IMHO.
Never noticed that Matt has had hair replacement done/wears a small piece on top.
Lately, he should really just shut up when he feels a thought forming.
Perhaps those thoughts just burned the follicles right out.
+ 1. It’s the follicle burning chemical properties of smug.
Rupert Everett didn’t kill his career because he came out, he destroyed it by being a mean, vicious, vituperative pr*ck to everyone and everything. He victimized himself and slagged off many other actors in doing so.
So no Matt, you are wrong and you’ve completely ruined any good will (pun intended) I had for you. Time to STFU.
Interestingly with this interview Matt Damon clouded any search with his name & gay as search terms.
Many moons ago on a site (possibly even Celebitchy) a commenter from Cambridge, MA (Matt’s hometown) shared some information. Matt had a boyfriend for many years. It was common knowledge so the poster didn’t think they were speaking out of turn. They were seen together all the time. It was stated in a matter-of-fact way. Then voila, as his star rose, his boyfriend was erased. If this is true, it’s very sad. His personal history was heterosexualized at Hollywood’s very special drycleaner.
I used to go to Cambridge quite a bit back in the day, more to watch films, hang out than to people watch. So I can’t confirm the veracity of this claim. But I don’t celeb watch anywhere. Matt was a young pup then, but I don’t get a chance to tell the Julia Roberts story often
The Cuba blind item (Lainey Gossip) is about an actor who is married who has a Cuban boyfriend. Best to read it to come to your own conclusions.
It might mean nothing, who knows. But somewhere someone may have information. In light of these comments they might feel compelled to come forward.
Also re: his diversity comments, karma will be a bitch when this Latina daughters (Argentinian wife) ask him to explain.
So Matt please .
Uh, I’m from Mass. and grew up near Cambridge, and though I can’t claim to know anything about Matt’s sexuality, for all we know, they were his gay friends from the drama dept…
But that “Cuban boyfriend” you’re referring to? As I understand it, he was actually the ex-husband of Matt’s wife and father of his stepdaughter, invited to live on their property after he lost his job and home in the Florida economic crash.
Honestly, don’t believe everything you read on Lainey’s gossip blind site. Who knows what the motivation of her “sources” may be, but half the stuff she claims, she also never follows up on or provides further proof.
She’s as much throwing sh*t at the wall to see if it sticks as is Radar or Star magazine.
He had a girlfriend in college, Skylar, who became an ER doctor back then. They dated for several years I think I read. He based the character in his Good Will Hunting movie on her. She married the Metallica drummer, Lars Ulrich. How does Lars get these women?
She was very pretty.
http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2013-11/enhanced/webdr01/21/11/enhanced-buzz-26967-1385050239-5.jpg
Never heard any such thing, and I grew up in the next city and know several people who knew Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
I don’t think he meant anything bad by it. I think he was just trying to say that once you come out it seems like it’s harder career-wise. Not that he thinks bad of gay people or that they should stay in the closet. But yeah, I think Matt needs to zip it for a while before he blows his nice guy image completely.
I guess the bigger issue here is, what is the alternative? Does a gay actor hide deep in the closet and engage in bearding relationships to be able to get roles and sell their movie? Do they stay private and refuse to talk about their personal life (there would still be speculation and they would have to be careful no details of their lives leaked)? Or do they live in a glass closet a la Jodie Foster and Kevin Spacey? The idea that an openly gay man could never be a believable romantic lead (the whole “it ruins the fantasy” for women argument) or could never be an action hero has been around since the beginning of Hollywood. How will this ever change? Well I guess society needs to change first. I think Rupert Everett is a bad example and that Damon probably didn’t think very much about his words before speaking, but it is an interesting discussion to have. Until a major A list movie star leading man is openly gay and is able to open films at number one over and over again, I think it’s a bit too soon to say “oh well, no one cares if an actor is gay anymore.”
I completely lost my Matt Damon love over those last few interviews. Sorry, mate.
Yuck – I’m glad I’m not some celebrity whose every word is parsed for offensive content, as happens these days, by people who it seems like are just looking to be offended. I am certain that if any one of us had all our statements written down, there would be countless examples of you saying things that sounded horrible but were not what you intended at all.
And I don’t think what he said was horrible-sound or offensive to begin with, as posters have cited he was talking about actors who have come out and then found themselves typecast/stereotyped in future roles.
+1
Here’s the thing about actors putting their foot in their mouth: I don’t look to actors for advice about politics, marriage, gay marriage, sexuality, feminism or anything else. Unless someone has a political platform or some sort of special insight (like Jolie), I really don’t need to listen to their uneducated opinion on a variety of sensitive topics. Damon included. Hollywood has gotten WAY too preachy.
I’m so sick of this PC bullshit, being gay myself I don’t find Damon’s comments offensive at all and i agree that the less you know about the actors the better.And in regards to the project greenlight controversy, allhe said was that they shoud pick the director based on talent not race
He needs to shut up. He is beyond stupid.
Well, his friendship with Ben Affleck makes a whole lot more sense to me now anyway.
I am so NOT “f*cking Matt Damon.” (Sorry Sarah Silverman, I love you, but this is over.)
As a LGBT person this honestly doesn’t offend me, I don’t think he’s saying actors should stay in the closet, he’s saying that actors should keep their private lives private to the greatest extent possible.
It was, however, a poorly thought out statement since actors don’t really have the ability to hide things like their sexuality unless they deny it. I mean, people notice who actors hang out with, who they bring to an event, who they’re living with. Even with the most intensely private celebrities we know the names and genders of their SO. I don’t think he considered that at the time he replied to the question.
Honestly, he’s right about Rupert Everett though. Being openly gay can really screw you over in Hollywood… but arguably that’s all the more reason for actors to be open about their sexuality, until it isn’t something that puts them at a disadvantage.
I think he comes off sounding kind of dumb, but nothing he’s said is hateful. I don’t think he has anything against women in the industry or gay people.