The Martian star appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show following criticism he told gay actors to remain in the closet for the good of their careers during Observer interview

In an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres US daytime talk show, the actor Matt Damon has defended himself against claims he sought to encourage gay actors to remain in the closet during an Observer interview.

Matt Damon has backed himself into a corner with hypocritical gay comments Read more

The Bourne Ultimatum star was thrown into his second major controversy in a matter of weeks – he was recently forced to apologise for appearing to downplay the importance of diversity in film while judging the HBO reality show Project Greenlight – after telling journalist Elizabeth Day: “I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”

Damon, 44, told host Ellen DeGeneres he had not intended to make homophobic comments, and appeared to cast blame for the furore on mischievous internet journalists.



“I was just trying to say actors are more effective when they’re a mystery. Right?” he told the 2014 Oscars host. “And somebody picked it up and said I said gay actors should get back in the closet. Which is like I mean it’s stupid, but it is painful when things get said that you don’t believe.”

He added: “In the blogosphere there’s no real penalty for just taking the ball and running with it. You know what I mean? You’re just trying to click on your thing. So.”

DeGeneres, who is openly gay, told him: “I know you and I know you’re not that guy.”

Two weeks ago Damon, who is currently promoting the critically acclaimed Ridley Scott space thriller The Martian, ran into criticism after he appeared to suggest Project Greenlight judges should not take diversity into consideration while carrying out their professional duties. The show, which Damon created with long-term partner Ben Affleck, gives first-time directors the chance to make a movie. The hashtag #damonsplaining began trending on Twitter shortly after the actor’s controversial comments to African American producer Effie Brown were aired.

Matt Damon apologises for diversity in film gaffe Read more

Damon’s latest case of foot in mouth occurred after he began discussing rumours that he and Affleck were gay during the period the pair became well-known in Hollywood after writing the Oscar-winning screenplay for 1997’s Good Will Hunting.

“It’s just like any piece of gossip … and it put us in a weird position of having to answer, you know what I mean?” he said. “Which was then really deeply offensive. I don’t want to, like [imply] it’s some sort of disease – then it’s like I’m throwing my friends under the bus.”

Added Damon: “But at the time, I remember thinking and saying, Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy – more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor – it’s tough to make the argument that he didn’t take a hit for being out.”

A number of US sites, including the Daily Beast, Hitfix and the Mary Sue, have since published pieces lambasting the famously liberal actor for his latest faux pas.

“What Damon should be doing ... is using Everett as a case study for why the way gay actors are treated in Hollywood needs to change,” admonished Kevin Fallon of the Daily Beast. “What a waste that Everett’s career didn’t take off the way it maybe deserved to, and only because some casting directors were worried that he wouldn’t be taken seriously as a straight character because of his sexuality.”