Armanda Zosky 
Matt Damon recently made some statements in an interview that have landed him in hot water. Speaking about the recent surge of sexual harassment accusations spreading like wildfire, Damon claimed that not all of these allegations should be treated equally, and some are heavier than others.
Sexual harassment is a very sensitive topic in the entertainment industry right now, and taking a controversial stand on it can be a risky move. As can be expected, it did not take long for negative comments to start pouring in, led by actresses Alyssa Milano and Minnie Driver, both very unhappy with the way Damon handled that interview.
God God, SERIOUSLY? https://t.co/NDZFrLDXil
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) December 15, 2017
Gosh it’s so *interesting how men with all these opinions about women’s differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape reveal themselves to be utterly tone deaf and as a result, systemically part of the problem( *profoundly unsurprising)
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) December 15, 2017
The actor and producer said: “You know, there’s a difference between, you know, 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 should not be conflated, right?”
Dear Matt Damon,
It’s the micro that makes the macro.
(Thread)
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
Damon’s statements did seem to imply that some harassers are guiltier than others, but it is also possible that things were taken out of context to some extent. He indeed does not seem keen on the idea of defending anyone who has been accused of sexual misconduct, though he does seem to believe that there’s a possibility for some of the accused to redeem themselves.
He spoke mainly positively regarding comedian Louis C.K. and appeared to see him differently from someone like disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein with regards to the magnitude of his misdeeds. That is also what drew so much negative attention to him in the first place, and it looks like the comments against him keep coming out.
Damon has not responded to any of that, and it will probably take a while for him to address the situation, as he has likely realized that he is speaking in a much more sensitive environment than he initially suspected.
Fox News Channel star Tucker Carlson has defended Damon and believes that Hollywood overreacted to the actor’s remarks.
He said: “There’s not a single sentiment in that entire paragraph that is not defensible.”
Some commenters say people like Damon should not be seen as enemies in the battle ahead for equality and justice.
