Matt Damon: Cancel Culture Follows You to the Grave

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck sat down with Joe Rogan on his podcast this Friday to talk about their new Netflix movie The Rip. During the chat, Damon said getting canceled in Hollywood is worse than going to jail because it follows you forever. The actors used the interview to push back on what they see as harsh public judgments in the industry.

Background

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have worked together for years, starting with their Oscar-winning script for Good Will Hunting back in 1997. They wrote that film as unknowns and it put them on the map. Since then, they've starred in hits like the Bourne series and Ocean's Eleven movies. Lately, they've teamed up again for The Rip, a Netflix story about Miami police officers who find hidden cash and start doubting each other.

Joe Rogan's podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, draws big crowds with long talks on everything from comedy to politics. Rogan often hosts stars from film and sports. This episode came as Damon and Affleck hit the press circuit for The Rip, which looks at how good people can slide into bad choices. The movie shows cops facing tough calls that test their bonds.

Damon has faced backlash before. In 2021, he drew fire for comments on language and later for thoughts on diversity in film projects. He apologized each time but the stories stuck around. Affleck has dealt with his own public fights, including divorce news and work controversies. Both men have seen how one slip can linger in Hollywood.

Cancel culture has grown as a hot topic over the last decade. It means public outrage online leads to lost jobs or roles for stars. People point to cases like Kevin Spacey or Louis C.K., where accusations ended careers fast. Damon and Affleck brought it up when Rogan described it as one mistake blowing up to exile you for life.

Key Details

Rogan kicked off the talk by calling cancel culture a way to take one act and make it define you forever. He said it casts people out of society for good. Damon jumped in, agreeing it lasts in perpetuity.

Damon's Take on Jail vs. Cancellation

Damon said many canceled people might pick jail over the backlash.

"I bet some of those people would've preferred to go to jail for 18 months or whatever, and then come out and say, 'I paid my debt. Like, we're done. Like, can we be done?'"

He added that public shaming never stops. It shows up first in every search and sticks until you die. "It just will follow you to the grave," Damon said.

Affleck backed him up, saying the movie The Rip gives a real look at humans. It shows how folks mess up but can grow. He pushed against seeing people as all good or all bad based on one error.

"You become like an outcast. And I don't think anybody wants to think you're the sum total of… who you are is your worst moment."

Damon chimed in that we're all evolving. Judging someone hard means you think you've got life perfect. "Oh, so you aced the test? Like, put your pencil down, you nailed being human? You're done, congratulations," he said.

The Rip plot fits their points. It follows officers who grab dirty money and face fallout. Affleck called it a slippery slope to big mistakes. The film lets characters show layers, not just black-and-white right or wrong.

What This Means

Hollywood keeps changing with social media's reach. One tweet or clip can spark outrage that bosses notice. Studios now check actors' pasts close before casting. This chat shows Damon and Affleck want room for growth after slips.

Their words might stir fans on both sides. Some see cancel culture as needed pushback on power abuses. Others call it mob rule that skips fair trials. Damon and Affleck lean to the second view, using their platform to call for forgiveness.

The Rip drops on Netflix soon, timed with this buzz. Viewers might watch it through their lens on judgment. It could draw talks on real-life cases where stars lost work over old acts.

Damon's past scrapes give weight to his words. His comments on slurs and sets led to apologies, but headlines lingered. Affleck's line on complexity matches his own path through scandals.

Rogan's huge audience means millions heard this. His show often shapes debates, from vaccines to comedy rules. This episode adds to fights over free speech in entertainment.

For actors, staying clean online matters more now. One wrong word risks roles or deals. Damon and Affleck say that setup ignores how people change. Their push for nuance could sway younger fans who grew up with strict online norms.

The film itself tests loyalties under pressure. Much like real stars facing public heat. By linking promo to this topic, they tie art to life lessons on mercy.

Industry watchers will track if The Rip succeeds. Strong numbers could boost their clout to speak out more. It might also spark counter views from groups hit by unchecked power.

Damon turns 55 this year, Affleck 53. Both have families and long careers. Speaking now shows they care about the rules shaping new talent. They want a space where mistakes don't end you forever.