One positive thing to come out of 2017 is a shift in the way the world views sexual assault. Women are speaking up more than ever about their personal experiences with sexual misconduct, and the best part? The world is paying attention, change is happening and men are being held accountable for their previously protected but inappropriate behaviors.
Some people, though, are completely missing the point of the conversation. Matt Damon, Hello Giggles shares, is one of those people.
The actor recently expressed to Business Insider that the world should also be paying attention to the millions of men who aren’t harassing women. His tone-deaf statement says, “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.”
In other words, we should be applauding the men who are acting like decent human beings? As if the world hasn’t been favoring the acts of men for, like, the entire history of the human race. To no surprise, his words did not go over well with the Twitter-verse.
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
Matt Damon: ‘one thing’ not being talked about is men who aren’t predators pic.twitter.com/HWrOz2iO1R
— Kathryn Bromwich (@kathryn42) December 19, 2017
Hi ladies, can we all just be quiet for second and stop chatting about our #metoo stories. Matt Damon wants us so to thank all the men who haven’t assaulted us for not assaulting us. pic.twitter.com/wlN1SNsXQq
— Hanna Ines Flint (@HannaFlint) December 18, 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 (@profblmkelley) December 19, 2017
The “not all men” narrative is flat out insulting, and people like Matt Damon only continue to perpetuate it with comments like this. The non-sexual predators are not the problem, which is why there is no reason to talk about them. Full offense, Mr. Damon, but I will kindly ask you to take your unwelcome and incorrect statements elsewhere… maybe to a classroom, so you can educate yourself on women’s history.