Matt Damon says we should be talking more about men who *don’t* harass women, and Twitter is on fire

In more “Matt Damon says something horribly tone deaf about sexual misconduct” news, Damon recently told Business Insider that we should all spend more time discussing the men in Hollywood who aren’t sexual predators. The full quote reads,

"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 sh*tload 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."

Let’s get one thing clear: Men have been both celebrated and protected within the entertainment industry (and the world at large) for generations. Some have been outright predators, some have protected predators, and some have been party to more subtle and insidious forms of daily harassment without even understanding or acknowledging that their actions crossed a line (for example, when Ben Affleck “playfully” groped Hilarie Burton’s breast while on TRL). Do plenty of men not engage in this behavior? Of course.

But to insinuate that now is the time to celebrate them — for just doing what a decent human being should do anyway — utterly misses the importance and significance of the current cultural moment. This is the first time in history when victims of sexual misconduct are being heard and taken seriously, and when men are being held accountable for their actions — and that is what we should be talking about. That is what we are talking about.

Of course, Twitter had thoughts.

Me: Oh my god, someone broke all of my dishes!
Matt Damon, crashing thru door: You should talk about people who don't break dishes.

— Jessica Ellis (@baddestmamajama) December 18, 2017

If Matt Damon seems like a weird, broken brobot, it’s because he’s never not had control of the narrative. And THAT’s the problem. I’m seeing this reaction in friends, in local politicians, even. It’s been an eye-opener. Wake up, boys. Wake up.

— Matt Debenham (@debenham) December 19, 2017

Live footage of Matt Damon thinking about all the poor menz pic.twitter.com/GzVIG8cCSF

— ChemFem🏳️‍🌈 (@Mol_E_Cool) December 19, 2017

Matt Damon: 'one thing' not being talked about is men who aren't predators pic.twitter.com/HWrOz2iO1R

— Kathryn Bromwich (@kathryn42) December 19, 2017

Say a prayer for Matt Damon's publicist this morning.

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 19, 2017

false

You know how in Pokémon Team Rocket lose at the end of every single episode then the next time they come back with the exact same supreme confidence? Anyway that's Matt Damon rn

— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@kenchengcomedy) December 19, 2017

These comments by Matt Damon is where I feel this is all going. The "not all men" as if we should be praising men for normal behavior toward other humans. The "forcibily kissing, exposing yourself isn't as bad as rape" defense as if women should be appreciative of the difference.

— Blair LM Kelley, PhD (@profblmkelley) December 19, 2017

Listen, if I wanted to hear Matt Damon's thoughts, I'd strike up a conversation with a drunk man loitering outside of a gas station

— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) December 18, 2017

Needless to say, it’s probably a good idea for Matt Damon to lay low for a while (oh, and also, EDUCATE HIMSELF ON THIS SUBJECT BEFORE SPEAKING ON IT EVER AGAIN).

Thanks, Matt.