Matt Damon: Racism in America ‘So Much Worse’ Than I Thought

Matt Damon: Racism in America ‘So Much Worse’ Than I Thought

by Daniel Nussbaum 1 Sep 2017

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/09/01/matt-damon-extent-racism-america-much-worse-thought/

Actor Matt Damon sounded off on President Donald Trump and the state of racism in America in an extensive interview this week, explaining that he found the president’s response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia this month “absolutely abhorrent” and that he underestimated the extent of the racist attitudes in the country at large.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the 46-year-old actor said his upcoming film Suburbicon — a 1950s-set thriller about a family man in the suburbs driven to the brink by his town’s “underbelly” of violence and deceit — has taken on new significance following the events in Charlottesville, in which one woman was killed and more than a dozen injured when white nationalist protesters faced off with so-called “Antifa” counter-protesters.

“We made the movie last year and it’s incredible to see what’s happened in Charlottesville. It’s horrible,” Damon told THR. “A lot of people, myself included, are really waking up to the extent of the existing racism, and it’s so much worse than I naively thought. I just feel naïve at this point.”

Actor Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso pose for photographers at the premiere of the film ‘Downsizing’ which opens the 74th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Damon added that he was shocked to see footage of the white nationalist protesters hoisting Tiki torches and shouting anti-Semitic slogans during the Charlottesville protests, explaining that he believed the next generation of Americans would be more inclusive and open.

“Then the night that the President [made his] ‘many sides’ comment was absolutely abhorrent,” he said. “Sadly, I feel the movie was made at the right time.”

Damon — who has long been a critic of Trump — also told THR that he is “very concerned with the state of things” in the country, and with the “damage that’s being done to our institutions.”

“Robert Mueller is kind of representing these institutions at this point, and just by some trick of history he’s the one who’s essentially defending them against these attacks, so hopefully his investigation is going smoothly,” Damon told the outlet. “He can’t wrap things up soon enough, as far as I’m concerned.”

US actor Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Damon arrive for the opening ceremony of the 74th Venice Film Festival and the premiere of the movie “Downsizing”, on August 30, 2017 at Venice Lido. / AFP PHOTO / Filippo MONTEFORTE

Still, Damon admitted to THR that his work as an actor, and his residence in California, have “isolated” him from much of the country.

“I’m kind of walled off, like a lot of actors,” he said. “But in California, New York, the Northeast, it feels you’re surrounded by like-minded people, and then there are other parts of the country where you’d be hard-pressed to find people who believe what you believe.”

Damon has previously been outspoken about his disdain for Trump. In July of last year, the Oscar-winner told the Associated Press that he was “frightened” at the prospect of a Trump presidency, and was “genuinely concerned about his temperament.”

The actor has also expressed skepticism about some of Trump’s major campaign promises, including the president’s vow to build a security wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

“We’ve got to watch, but hopefully the people of Mexico understand that the people of our country, the majority of them don’t believe that we should be putting any walls up,” Damon told People magazine in February.

Elsewhere in his THR interview, Damon explains what it was like to meet pal George Clooney for the first time, and what Coen Brothers fans can expect from Suburbicon. Read the full interview here.

Let’s connect the dots:

Hollywood Reporter

Eric Mika is the SVP for the Hollywood Reporter, and a director at the Creative Coalition.

Note: Christopher P. Albrecht was a director at the Creative Coalition, and a donor for the 2012 George Clooney fundraiser for Obama.

Matthew C. Blank is a director at the Creative Coalition, and a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, and the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and is a board member for the International Crisis Group.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, an advocate for the ONE Campaign, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, and is Emma Bloomberg’s father.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

H2O Africa Foundation is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Matt Damon is a co-founder for the H2O Africa Foundation, a friend of Ben Affleck, was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and the Sexiest Man Alive 2007 for People.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and Harvey Weinstein arranged for her to announce best picture at 2012 Oscars.

Harvey Weinstein arranged for Michelle Obama to announce best picture at 2012 Oscars, and is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

John F. Kennedy Jr. was a director at the Robin Hood Foundation, Sexiest Man Alive 1988 for People.

Emma Bloomberg is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation, Michael R. Bloomberg’s daughter, and was the chief of staff for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, and the Harlem Village Academies.

Matthew C. Blank is a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone, and a director at the Creative Coalition.

Eric Mika is a director at the Creative Coalition, and the SVP for the Hollywood Reporter.

Hugh Jackman is a director at the Harlem Village Academies, and the Sexiest Man Alive 2008 for People.

Ben Affleck was the Sexiest Man Alive 2002 for People, and is a friend of Matt Damon.

Matt Damon is a friend of Ben Affleck, a co-founder for the H2O Africa Foundation, was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and the Sexiest Man Alive 2007 for People.

H2O Africa Foundation is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michael R. Bloomberg was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, and is Emma Bloomberg’s father.

Matthew C. Blank is a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone, and a director at the Creative Coalition.

Christopher P. Albrecht was a director at the Creative Coalition, and a donor for the 2012 George Clooney fundraiser for Obama.

Eric Mika is a director at the Creative Coalition, and the SVP for the Hollywood Reporter.

Robin Hood Foundation raised money for Hurricane Sandy relief.

Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund is a relief organization for Hurricane Sandy.

Mary Pat Christie is the chair for the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, and is married to Christopher J. Christie.

Christopher J. Christie is married to Mary Pat Christie, and was the

 U.S. attorney, District of New Jersey for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Robert S. Mueller III is a special counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice, and was a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Michael Signer was an attorney at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, a director at the Truman Center for National Policy, and is the Charlottesville (VA) mayor.

Leslie H. Gelb is an advisory board member for the Truman Center for National Policy, and was a board member for the International Crisis Group.

Ernesto Zedillo was a board member for the International Crisis Group, and the president for Mexico.

Kamala D. Harris is an advisory board member for the Truman Center for National Policy, and a California congressional delegation member.

Rockefeller Foundation was a funder for the Truman Center for National Policy, and the National Council of La Raza.

Gabrielle Giffords is an advisory board member for the Truman Center for National Policy, and a co-founder for the Americans for Responsible Solutions.

Americans for Responsible Solutions is a “Gun Safety, Gun Control” PAC for guns.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a contributor for the Americans for Responsible Solutions, a New York (NY) mayor, an advocate for the ONE Campaign, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, and is Emma Bloomberg’s father.

Matthew C. Blank is a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone, and a director at the Creative Coalition.

Eric Mika is a director at the Creative Coalition, and the SVP for the Hollywood Reporter.

Christopher P. Albrecht was a director at the Creative Coalition, and a donor for the 2012 George Clooney fundraiser for Obama.