Matt Damon's Off Our 'Shut The F*ck Up Already' List, And Alec Baldwin Has Already Taken His Spot

By Tori Preston | Celebrity | January 16, 2018 |

By Tori Preston | Celebrity | January 16, 2018 |

It looks like Matt Damon is starting 2018 off on the right foot! After a year spent saying the wrong damn thing consistently, he’s rebounding by saying the 100% correct thing for a change. And what is that correct thing? Basically: “I’m gonna STFU now.”

Damon sat down with Kathie Lee Gifford on TODAY this morning to discuss Water.Org, the long-running charity he founded with Gary White. But toward the end, the conversation took a turn when Kathie Lee asked him what he’d learned from being caught up in the controversies surrounding the general #MeToo movement. Well, she didn’t ask quite that (she’s awkward, yo), but that’s basically the question that Matt chose to answer. And he’s clearly been listening to the criticism he’s received for every OTHER time he’s tried to address the culture of sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood (like the time he perfected the “father of daughters” response or the time he helpfully pointed out the spectrum of sexually predatory behavior between the criminal and the merely shamefully gross). I can tell, because this time? This time he fucking NAILED IT.

“I think ultimately what it is for me is I don’t want to further anybody’s pain with anything I do or say, so for that, I’m really sorry. Time’s Up, a lot of those women are my dear friends, and I love them and respect them and support what they’re doing and want to be a part of that change and want to go along for the ride, but I should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while.”

“A lot of those women are my dear friends and I love them and respect them and support what they’re doing and want to be a part of that change … But I should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while.”

Matt Damon on the #TimesUp movement. pic.twitter.com/jNjiIjuhVl

— Kathie Lee and Hoda (@klgandhoda) January 16, 2018

I SHOULD GET IN THE BACK SEAT AND CLOSE MY MOUTH FOR A WHILE

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

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via GIPHY

Gee, it sounds like he might be taking Minnie Driver’s advice to heart! That’s just… fucking beautiful, you know? Like, I’m sure it took a team of publicists to come up with that statement, and I’m sure they coached him through how to say it like he had just thought of it, but I don’t care. I don’t care what winding road he took to get to this point. I don’t even care that he wasted that perfect word-nugget on Kathie Lee Gifford. All that matters is that for once, a dude figured out how to shut his damn mouth. #BLESSED.

But before you start feeling all hopeful about the privileged white men of Hollywood, here’s Alec Baldwin NOT keeping his mouth shut about Woody Fucking Allen.

Woody Allen was investigated forensically by two states (NY and CT) and no charges were filed. The renunciation of him and his work, no doubt, has some purpose. But it’s unfair and sad to me. I worked w WA 3 times and it was one of the privileges of my career.

— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) January 16, 2018

WA’s talent has nothing to do with it.
This is a charge that was investigated aggressively and resulted in…nothing.
What would it take for you to at least consider that he is telling the truth?

— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) January 16, 2018

Is it possible to support survivors of pedophilia and sexual assault/abuse and also believe that WA is innocent?
I think so.
The intention is not to dismiss or ignore such complaints. But accusing ppl of such crimes should be treated carefully. On behalf of the victims, as well.

— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) January 16, 2018

I never thought I’d say this, but uh… Thanks, Matt Damon. You’re gonna be my happy place for the moment.