Matt Damon clarifies his statement amid backlash saying he never used the F slur

Matt Damon is walking back statements he made to the Sunday Times over the weekend, where he said that he used the “F slur for a homosexual” in a joke recently, and his daughter schooled him never to use it again.

After the backlash from the interview, The Bourne Identity star clarified his words in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter.

“During a recent interview, I recalled a discussion I had with my daughter where I attempted to contextualize for her the progress that has been made – though by no means completed – since I was growing up in Boston and, as a child, heard the word ‘f*g’ used on the street before I knew what it even referred to,” the statement read.

“I explained that that word was used constantly and casually and was even a line of dialogue in a movie of mine as recently as 2003; she in turn expressed incredulity that there could ever have been a time where that word was used unthinkingly.”

He continued, “To my admiration and pride, she was extremely articulate about the extent to which that word would have been painful to someone in the LGBTQ+ community regardless of how culturally normalized it was. I not only agreed with her but thrilled at her passion, values and desire for social justice.”

 “I have never called anyone ‘f****t’ in my personal life,” he added, “and this conversation with my daughter was not a personal awakening. I do not use slurs of any kind. I have learned that eradicating prejudice requires active movement toward justice rather than finding passive comfort in imagining myself ‘one of the good guys.’ And given that open hostility against the LGBTQ+ community is still not uncommon, I understand why my statement led many to assume the worst. To be as clear as I can be, I stand with the LGBTQ+ community.”

The Sunday Times interview raised eyebrows and stirred controversy over the weekend when Damon reportedly told the outlet that the gay slur was “commonly used when I was a kid, with a different application,” adding that he used the slur in a joke “months ago,” but his daughter made him realize that was a mistake.

Matt Damon was a trending topic on social media after the Sunday Times article was published, prompting a statement from GLAAD’s head of talent Anthony Ramos.

“The conversations that have arisen after Matt Damon’s original interview and subsequent remarks today are an important reminder that this word, or any word that aims to disparage and disrespect LGBTQ people, has no place in mainstream media, social media, classrooms, workplaces, and beyond,” Ramos said. “There needs to be accountability at a time when anti-LGBTQ slurs remain rampant today and can fuel discrimination and stereotypes, especially when used by those outside of the community to defame or describe LGBTQ people.”

Comedian and Billy On The Street host Billy Eichner also joined the conversation on Twitter, writing, “I want to know what word Matt Damon has replaced f****t with.”

So did Star Trek icon George Takei and Desus and Mero host Desus Nice.

This controversy comes on the heels of rapper DaBaby making anti-queer comments at a Rolling Loud Miami concert, where he disparaged those suffering with HIV/AIDS, the queer community, and women in general. His comments prompted Madonna, Elton John, and “Levitating” collaborator Dua Lipa to release statements condemning his comments. DaBaby has since apologized.

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