Matt Damon finally broke his silence Tuesday about the sexual harassment accusations against Harvey Weinstein.
“We know this stuff goes on in the world,” the 47-year-old actor explained to Deadline. “I did five or six movies with Harvey [Weinstein]. I never saw this. I think a lot of actors have come out and said, everybody’s saying we all knew. That’s not true.” (RELATED: Rose McGowan Calls Out Matt Damon Over Weinstein’s Sexual Harassment Allegations)
Actor Matt Damon poses during a photocall for the movie “Downsizing” at the 74th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy August 30, 2017. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
“This type of predation happens behind closed door, and out of public view,” he added. “If there was ever an event that I was at and Harvey was doing this kind of thing and I didn’t see it, then I am so deeply sorry, because I would have stopped it. And I will peel my eyes back now, [farther] than I ever have, to look for this type of behavior.”
“Because we know that it happens,” he continued. “I feel horrible for these women and it’s wonderful they have this incredible courage and are standing up now. We can all feel this change that’s happening, which is necessary and overdue.”
“Men are a huge part of that change, and we have to be vigilant and we have to help protect and call this stuff out because we have our sisters and our daughters and our mothers,” Damon explained. “This kind of stuff can’t happen. This morning, I just feel absolutely sick to my stomach.”
The “Good Will Hunting” star also denied claims in a Vulture report by former New York Times reporter and TheWrap founder Sharon Waxmen that alleged in 2004 he helped squash a story in the Times about Weinstein’s alleged sexual misdeeds. The actor was called out by performers like Jessica Chastain and Rose McGowan following the report Sunday.
“Look, even before I was famous, I didn’t abide this kind of behavior,” Damon said. “But now, as the father of four daughters, this is the kind of sexual predation that keeps me up at night. This is the great fear for all of us. You have a daughter, you know…”
“For the record, I would never, ever, ever try to kill a story like that,” he added. “I just wouldn’t do that. It’s not something I would do, for anybody.”
