Matt Damon apologises for sexual harassment comments

From Digital Spy

Matt Damon has publicly apologised for his previous comments on Hollywood's sexual harassment scandal, following the backlash that greeted them last month.

Damon caused controversy when he appeared on Popcorn with Peter Travers, where he insisted that there should be a distinction drawn between types of sexual misconduct.

Speaking back then, the actor said: "I think it's wonderful that women are feeling empowered to tell their stories, and it's totally necessary... [But] I do believe there's a spectrum of behaviour… There's a difference between patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, right?

"Both of those behaviours need to be confronted and eradicated without question, but they shouldn't be conflated."

Appearing on TODAY on Tuesday (January 16), the Downsizing star was quizzed by Kathie Lee Gifford on what he has learned from the backlash against what he said.

"I really wish I'd listened a lot more before I weighed in on this," mused Damon. "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."

Speaking in particular about the Time's Up movement, Damon suggested that he's going to be less vocal for now.

"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," he said. "But I should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while."

Recent events connected to Time's Up have included Rebecca Hall donating her wages from new Woody Allen film A Rainy Day in New York to the movement, and Mark Wahlberg giving his controversial reshoot fee for All the Money in the World to the movement.

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