Editing Matt Damon (section)

=== Political and social views===
While discussing the [[Iraq War]] on ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews]]'' in December 2006, Damon expressed concern about inequities across socioeconomic classes with regard to who is tasked with the responsibility of fighting wars.<ref name="OYE">{{cite news|publisher=United Press International|title=Damon: Maybe Bush twins should go to Iraq|url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061215-091251-2299r |date=December 15, 2006|access-date=April 5, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070105010500/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061215-091251-2299r |archive-date = January 5, 2007}}</ref>

In an interview with the [[Sunday Herald|''Sunday Herald'']] in January 2003, Damon expressed his support for [[gun control]] with "I actually hate guns. They freak me out."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Ian |title=Matt Damon - Sunday Herald (2003) |url=https://www.ianwatsonuk.com/mattdamon.html |website=ianwatsonuk.com |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref>

Damon is a supporter of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and has made several critical attacks on [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] figures. However, he also expressed disappointment over the policies of President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="DamonPalin">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3310993/YouTubes-best-US-election-videos.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221022939/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3310993/YouTubes-best-US-election-videos.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2009|title=YouTube's best US election videos|publisher=[[Telegraph.co.uk]]|date=October 31, 2008|access-date=April 5, 2009 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ali |first=Rahim |url=https://www.bet.com/article/rh75h5/matt-damon-criticizes-obama-and-american-politics |title=Matt Damon Criticizes Obama and American Politics |publisher=BET |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=October 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007033846/http://www.bet.com/news/celebrities/2012/12/28/matt-damon-criticizes-obama-and-politics.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He had a working relationship with the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]], primarily due to his friendship with [[Jason Furman]], his former Harvard roommate who became Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors to Obama.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/economist-jason-furman-is-the-wonkiest-wonk-in-the-white-house/2014/02/12/7e14b7bc-8e8f-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html|title=Jason Furman is the biggest nerd in the White House. And a juggler. And Matt Damon's former roommate.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 29, 2016|archive-date=August 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825191713/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/economist-jason-furman-is-the-wonkiest-wonk-in-the-white-house/2014/02/12/7e14b7bc-8e8f-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Damon joined Ben Affleck and [[John Krasinski]] in hosting a fundraiser for Democratic [[United States Senate|Senate]] nominee [[Elizabeth Warren]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Daunt|first=Tina|date=May 22, 2012|title=Ben Affleck-Hosted Fundraiser for Elizabeth Warren Draws Big Stars, Big Bucks|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-affleck-hosted-fundraiser-elizabeth-327714|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503134134/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-affleck-hosted-fundraiser-elizabeth-327714|url-status=live}}</ref> Damon endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/05/08/damon-affleck-krasinski-hosting-elizabeth-warren-fundraiser/hdRiIVwFoscCToE0W4nmhI/story.html|title=Damon, Affleck, Krasinski hosting Elizabeth Warren fundraiser|author1=Noah Bierman|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 8, 2012|access-date=October 5, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094208/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/05/08/damon-affleck-krasinski-hosting-elizabeth-warren-fundraiser/hdRiIVwFoscCToE0W4nmhI/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/news/a6147/matt-damon-supporting-hillary-clinton/|title=Why Matt Damon is Supporting Hillary Clinton|last=Hallemann|first=Caroline|date=May 11, 2016|website=Town & Country|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029134649/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/news/a6147/matt-damon-supporting-hillary-clinton/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October and December 2017, Damon made headlines when he made a series of comments regarding the [[Me Too movement]] against sexual harassment and misconduct. On October 10, [[Sharon Waxman]], a former reporter for ''[[The New York Times]]'', mentioned that Damon and [[Russell Crowe]] had made direct phone calls to her to vouch for the head of [[Miramax]] Italy, Fabrizio Lombardo. In her report, she suspected Lombardo of facilitating incidents of [[Harvey Weinstein]]'s sexual misconduct in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/media-enablers-harvey-weinstein-new-york-times/|title='Harvey Weinstein's Media Enablers'? The New York Times Is One of Them|last=Waxman|first=Sharon|date=October 8, 2017|work=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014015627/https://www.thewrap.com/media-enablers-harvey-weinstein-new-york-times/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/harvey-weinstein-matt-damon-russell-crowe-new-york-times-sharon-waxman-2017-10|title=Former New York Times reporter says paper once killed story on Weinstein's sexual harassment after pressure from Matt Damon and Russell Crowe|last=Tani|first=Maxwell|date=October 9, 2017|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010022003/http://www.businessinsider.com/harvey-weinstein-matt-damon-russell-crowe-new-york-times-sharon-waxman-2017-10|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/10/09/report-matt-damon-helped-kill-earlier-new-york-times-story-about-harvey-weinstein/2TDJnvLT0eDq9HhuvdmXjP/story.html|title=Report: Matt Damon helped kill earlier New York Times story about Harvey Weinstein|last=Shanahan|first=Mark|date=October 9, 2017|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010035227/http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/10/09/report-matt-damon-helped-kill-earlier-new-york-times-story-about-harvey-weinstein/2TDJnvLT0eDq9HhuvdmXjP/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Damon clarified later that the calls were solely to reassure her of Lombardo's professional qualifications in the film industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/matt-damon-harvey-weinstein-russell-crowe-sexual-abuse-scandal-interview-1202185574/|title=Matt Damon Denies Trying To Kill 2004 NYT Harvey Weinstein Story: "If There Was Ever An Event And Harvey Was Doing This...I Would Have Stopped It"|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=October 10, 2017|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014012410/http://deadline.com/2017/10/matt-damon-harvey-weinstein-russell-crowe-sexual-abuse-scandal-interview-1202185574/|url-status=live}}</ref> Waxman endorsed Damon's statement on Twitter hours later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/matt-damon-denies-killing-2004-nyt-report-on-harvey-weinstein_us_59dd14ece4b01df09b769be5|title=Matt Damon Denies Killing 2004 NYT Report On Harvey Weinstein|last=Bradley|first=Bill|date=October 10, 2017|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=October 19, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019105914/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/matt-damon-denies-killing-2004-nyt-report-on-harvey-weinstein_us_59dd14ece4b01df09b769be5|url-status=live}}</ref> Also during this time, Damon said that he had heard a story from [[Ben Affleck]] that [[Gwyneth Paltrow]], a co-worker on a feature film of his, had been harassed by Weinstein in 1996, but thought "she had handled it" because they continued to work together, and Weinstein "treated her incredibly respectfully".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/matt-damon-knew-gwyneth-paltrows-weinstein-harassment-story-w509939|title=Matt Damon Knew Gwyneth Paltrow's Weinstein Sexual Harassment Story|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105123048/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/matt-damon-knew-gwyneth-paltrows-weinstein-harassment-story-w509939|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/gwyneth-paltrow-angelina-jolie-harvey-weinstein.html |url-access=subscription |title=Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Others Say Weinstein Harassed Them|last1=Kantor|first1=Jodi|date=October 10, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 4, 2018|last2=Abrams|first2=Rachel |archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010170622/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/gwyneth-paltrow-angelina-jolie-harvey-weinstein.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In another series of interviews during December 2017, Damon advocated for a "spectrum of behavior" analysis<ref name="ABC News-2017">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/matt-damon-opens-harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-confidentiality/story?id=51792548|title=Matt Damon on Harvey Weinstein, sexual harassment and confidentiality agreements|date=December 14, 2017|website=ABC News|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117213825/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/matt-damon-opens-harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-confidentiality/story?id=51792548|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chen-2017">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/matt-damon-theres-a-spectrum-in-sexual-misconduct-scandals-w514152|title=Matt Damon's Says 'There's a Spectrum' in Sexual Misconduct Scandals|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105123104/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/matt-damon-theres-a-spectrum-in-sexual-misconduct-scandals-w514152|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Desta-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/matt-damon-sexual-misconduct-comments|title=Matt Damon Is Still Talking About Sexual Misconduct|last=Desta|first=Yohana|work=HWD|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=December 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223004748/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/matt-damon-sexual-misconduct-comments|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Guerrasio-2017">{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-damon-talks-about-sexual-misconduct-in-hollywood-2017-12|title=Matt Damon says we aren't talking enough about all the men in Hollywood who aren't sexual predators|work=Business Insider|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=January 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104125230/http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-damon-talks-about-sexual-misconduct-in-hollywood-2017-12|url-status=live}}</ref> of sexual misconduct cases, noting that some are more serious than others.<ref name="Caron-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/arts/matt-damon-metoo-movement.html|title=Matt Damon Draws Rebukes for Comments on the #MeToo Movement|last=Caron|first=Christina|date=December 17, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105070346/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/arts/matt-damon-metoo-movement.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Desta-2017" /><ref name="Guerrasio-2017" /> The comment caused offense to prominent members of the Me Too movement<ref name="Caron-2017" /><ref name="Helmore-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/16/minnie-driver-matt-damon-men-cannot-understand-abuse|title=Minnie Driver: men like Matt Damon 'cannot understand what abuse is like'|last=Helmore|first=Edward|date=December 17, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104000834/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/16/minnie-driver-matt-damon-men-cannot-understand-abuse|url-status=live}}</ref> and the public for being "tone-deaf in understand[ing] what abuse is like".<ref name="Helmore-2017" /><ref name="Caron-2017" /> On January 17, 2018, Damon apologized on ''[[Today (American TV program)|The Today Show]]'' for his social commentary, stating that he "should get in the back seat and close [his] mouth for a while".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/16/entertainment/matt-damon-metoo/index.html|title=Matt Damon is done weighing in on #MeToo for a while|first=Sandra|last=Gonzalez|work=CNN|access-date=January 18, 2018|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117221105/http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/16/entertainment/matt-damon-metoo/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><!--Please refrain from adding more specific contributions to this section as that often compromises the articles neutral point of view by overburdening the article.--><!--This is a living, breathing person folks. This article falls under the ''Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons'' standard. Consult it before adding anything controversial content with "a high degree of sensitivity".-->

In March 2018, Damon and Affleck announced they would adopt the [[inclusion rider]] agreement in all their future production deals through their company [[Pearl Street Films]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |title=Matt Damon, Ben Affleck Will Support Inclusion Rider in Future Deals |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/matt-damon-ben-affleck-inclusion-rider-1202724988/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=July 23, 2018 |date=March 13, 2018 |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324225503/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/matt-damon-ben-affleck-inclusion-rider-1202724988/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2021, Damon sparked controversy after stating in an interview with ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' that he had only "months ago" stopped using the word "[[Faggot (slang)|fag]]", saying that it "was commonly used when I was a kid, with a different application".<ref>{{cite web |last=Dean |first=Jonathan |date=August 1, 2021 |title=Is Matt Damon the last of Hollywood's leading men? |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/is-matt-damon-the-last-of-hollywoods-leading-men-gdh9bcwqd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110104510/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/is-matt-damon-the-last-of-hollywoods-leading-men-gdh9bcwqd |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |access-date=January 10, 2022 |website=[[The Times]]}}</ref> This had come after an incident in which his daughter left the table due to his usage of the word and "wrote a very long, beautiful treatise on how that word is dangerous".<ref>{{cite web|last=Delbyck|first=Cole|date=August 1, 2021|title=Matt Damon Says Daughter Taught Him Not To Use 'F-Slur For A Homosexual' Months Ago|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matt-damon-daughter-homophobic-slur_n_6106d90ce4b0f9b5a234983f|access-date=August 20, 2021|website=HuffPost|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802035713/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matt-damon-daughter-homophobic-slur_n_6106d90ce4b0f9b5a234983f|url-status=live}}</ref> He denied ever using the six-letter word "faggot" in his personal life, and, in regard to the word "fag": "I explained that that word was used constantly and casually and was even a line of dialogue in a movie of mine as recently as 2003... To my admiration and pride, she was extremely articulate about the extent to which that word would have been painful to someone in the LGBTQ+ community regardless of how culturally normalized it was. I not only agreed with her but thrilled at her passion, values and desire for social justice."<ref>{{cite web|title=Matt Damon Insists He Never Used 'F-Slur': 'I Stand With the LGBTQ+ Community'|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/matt-damon-addresses-f-slur-1235032441/|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=Variety|date=August 2, 2021|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110093000/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/matt-damon-addresses-f-slur-1235032441/|url-status=live}}</ref>