It isn’t that Matt Damon’s a jerk and wasn’t born of the identity to effectively and respectively speak on diversity.
https://youtu.be/jkvRn9c-QE4
…it’s just that the Bourne Identity actor defended [ from his view] what “diversity” was when combating prospective contestant Effie Brown’s statement about the need for diversity in directing being implemented as a part of the show for (one of the characters of the not yet made the film the Project Greenlight contestants will be working on) was African American playing a typically negatively viewed type-cast role.
Ooof! Wow! Okay. Thank you for watching the show and getting a great conversation started. I can't wait to hear you on the other episodes!
— Effie Brown (@dulynotedinc) September 15, 2015
That being the case, Effie Brown was met with a less than well thought out response by Matt Damon which pretty much stated diversity is important in terms of inclusion in being cast, but not necessarily for directing.
MATT DAMON: You did NOT start a diversity conversation. Black people have BEEN having this conversation.
Over these fake progressives.
— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) September 17, 2015
Obviously this caused a social media stir in which Damon did eventually apologize [that his statement] “offended some people,” but fully explained himself:
I believe deeply that there need to be more diverse filmmakers making movies. I love making movies. It’s what I have chosen to do with my life and I want every young person watching “Project Greenlight” to believe that filmmaking is a viable form of creative expression for them too. My comments were part of a much broader conversation about diversity in Hollywood and the fundamental nature of “Project Greenlight” which did not make the show. I am sorry that they offended some people, but, at the very least, I am happy that they started a conversation about diversity in Hollywood. That is an ongoing conversation that we all should be having.
Ooof! Wow! Okay. Thank you for watching the show and getting a great conversation started. I can't wait to hear you on the other episodes!
— Effie Brown (@dulynotedinc) September 15, 2015
