Matt Damon Under Fire For 'Tone Deaf' Comments on Hollywood Sexual Abuse

The "Martian" star was blasted by a number of co-stars and celebrities over his controversial remarks.

Speaking to ABC News in order to promote his upcoming movie "Downsizing," Matt Damon landed in hot water when he was asked about the recent sexual assault revelations that brought down many of his colleagues.

Although Damon affirmed his support to the victims and stated that "it's wonderful that women are feeling empowered to tell their stories," he also seemingly distinguished between different types of sexual misdemeanors, suggesting that some do not warrant the loss of one's career.

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"There's a difference between, you know, patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, right?" he said.

"Both of those behaviors need to be confronted and eradicated without question, but they shouldn't be conflated, right?"

The Hollywood actor then proceeded to talk about sexual harassment accusations made against celebrity comic Louis CK, who had admitted to exposing himself and masturbating in front of a number of women.

"As I said, all of that behavior needs to be confronted, but there is a continuum."

"And on this end of the continuum where you have rape and child molestation or whatever, you know, that's prison. Right?

"The other stuff is just kind of shameful and gross, and I just think… I don't know Louis CK I'm a fan of his, but I don't imagine he's going to do those things again."

Damon suggested that "the price that he's paid at this point is so beyond anything that he [did]," referring to the decision by a number of companies to terminate their relationships with the embattled comic.

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The actor's comments, however, were scrutinized by number of his female colleagues, who blasted them for being "tone deaf".

Damon's former girlfriend and "Good Will Hunting" co-star, Minnie Driver, accused him of being "utterly tone deaf" and "systemically part of the problem."  

Speaking to The Guardian, Driver noted that "most men, good men" suffer from an inability to understand victims of sexual assault.

"They simply cannot understand what abuse is like on a daily level. I honestly think that until we get on the same page, you can't tell a woman about their abuse," she said.

Actress Alyssa Milano also criticized Damon for his differential treatment of various forms of sexual assault.

"I have been a victim of each component of the sexual assault spectrum of which you speak. They all hurt," she tweeted.

Social media users did not take kindly to Damon's comments, taking it to Twitter to vent off their frustration.

Quick shout out to all the women who are rightly sick of men like Matt Damon offering their stupid opinions on sexual harassment. This is precisely how trans people feel about ignorant people constantly discussing our lives. Factoring in that we're less than 1% of the population.

— Paris Lees (@parislees) 16 декабря 2017 г.

Matt Damon out here mansplaining sexual assault to women.

“Well, actually — sexual assault is a spectrum…”

This is just another way to silence women because in his view, they haven’t really suffered that much.

— Blairy Christmas 🤶🏻✨ (@BlairJ640) 17 декабря 2017 г.

#MattDamon made ignorant comments about #diversity two years ago. Now he is making ignorant comments about #sexualharrassment and #sexualassault. Is it safe to say Matt Damon is just plain ignorant? Not the sharpest tool in the shed? Just another straight rich white man?

— n3dda (@n3dda) 16 декабря 2017 г.

We should’ve left Matt Damon on Mars that one time.

— Mohanad Elshieky (@MohanadElshieky) 17 декабря 2017 г.

I used to be a huge fan of #MattDamon… But I couldn't even watch a Jason Bourne movie today for free on a plane!! Why did he have to open his #Mansplaining mouth??! #MeToo #YesAllWomen #stoptalkingmatt

— Real Housewife of SF (@realhauswifesf) 18 декабря 2017 г.

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) 16 декабря 2017 г.

If you're confused by why people are mad at Matt Damon, as many seem to be, bear in mind that he puts Louis CK on the "not so bad actually" list.

— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) 16 декабря 2017 г.

Pretty stunning how unconcerned Matt Damon is with women.

— June Diane Raphael (@MsJuneDiane) 17 декабря 2017 г.

we can disagree on Matt Damon’s opinions on coercion and sexual assault, but no one in their right mind thinks a shaved head is a good look for him

— Lynn-Manuel Mirandom (@illiter8too) 17 декабря 2017 г.