Yahoo News Matt Damon says he's going to 'close his mouth for a while' after voicing widely unwanted opinions on sexual assault
Matt Damon has finally agreed to stop giving his opinion on the sexual harassment conversation.
In an appearance on Tuesday's edition of TODAY, Damon regretted his responses to the "Time's Up" movement.
"I really wish I would have listened before I weighed in," he said.
“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 ... But I should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while.”
Matt Damon on the #TimesUp movement. pic.twitter.com/jNjiIjuhVl— Kathie Lee and Hoda (@klgandhoda) January 16, 2018
Right after that TODAY host Kathie Lee Gifford chimes in comforting him, "But you're a good listener though, Matt."
Damon then added he doesn't want to "further anybody's pain with what I do or what I say."
The Downsizing actor finally said what everyone's been thinking: "I should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while."
Damon's comments have caused a lot of debate since he spoke out about the conversation around sexual harassment and sexual assault.
In an interview for "Popcorn with Peter Travers" in December, Damon said he thought that talking about the topics was necessary, but tried to explain that there were varying degrees of each.
“I think it’s wonderful that women are feeling empowered to tell their stories, and it’s totally necessary,” he said. “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.”
In the same conversation, he explained that Harvey Weinstein and Al Franken "don't belong in the same category."
Damon's comments to Business Insider were also deemed controversial when he thought that men who haven't been accused of sexual assault or harassment should be focused on.
“We’re in this watershed moment, and it’s great, but I think one thing that’s not being talked about is there are a whole s—load of guys — the preponderance of men I’ve worked with — who don’t do this kind of thing and whose lives aren’t going to be affected,” he said.
Hopefully Damon does stick to what he said on TODAY and keeps his mouth shut.
