Matt Damon: Some People Who Were ‘Canceled’ Might Have Preferred Jail

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While promoting their new Netflix film, “The Rip,” Matt Damon and Ben Affleck discussed “cancel culture” on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. They talked about how facing public criticism can impact people working in Hollywood.

In a recent interview, Damon suggested that some actors facing career consequences due to public backlash, or “cancel culture,” might actually prefer a jail sentence. He pointed out that jail time is temporary, with a defined end, whereas the negative effects of being publicly shamed can last much longer.

Damon suggested that some people might actually prefer a defined punishment, like an 18-month jail sentence, so they could move on afterward and declare they’ve paid for their mistakes. He believes ‘cancel culture’ feels never-ending and can haunt someone for the rest of their life, following them ‘to the grave.’

Joe Rogan explained that “cancel culture” means a single error can permanently ruin someone’s reputation. He described it as taking one thing a person said or did and blowing it out of proportion, effectively banishing them from public life. Matt Damon agreed, adding that this banishment could last “in perpetuity.” The Daily Beast reported on these comments from the interview.

Damon understands what it’s like to receive online criticism. In 2021, he faced backlash after telling The Sunday Times he’d only recently stopped using a homophobic slur, after his daughter explained why the word was hurtful. The story quickly went viral, and many people accused him of being insensitive.

Damon quickly followed up with a statement to explain what he’d said. He stated he’s never personally used the offensive word and doesn’t use such language at all. He clarified he was discussing how language evolves, and shared a conversation with his daughter about making social progress. In the statement, Damon said his daughter powerfully explained why the word is harmful, and he expressed his admiration for her strong values and dedication to justice.

Damon explained that the criticism he received led him to some important self-reflection. He realized that addressing prejudice means taking concrete steps, not simply believing you have good intentions. He affirmed his support for the LGBTQ+ community and acknowledged why his previous comments caused such a strong reaction.

Even with recent discussions surrounding him, Matt Damon continued to thrive in his career. He’s appeared in successful movies such as “Air” and “Oppenheimer,” and will be starring in Christopher Nolan’s new film, “The Odyssey,” later this year.

You can hear the complete interview with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. They talk about topics like cancel culture, the entertainment industry, and what they’ve been working on recently.

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2026-01-17 12:15