What the @#$%?
Following up on his contentious comments about diversity onscreen, Matt Damon aired another surprisingly conservative viewpoint in a new Guardian interview, suggesting that gay actors ought to remain quiet about their sexuality.
“I think it must be really hard for actors to be out publicly,” the actor said. “But in terms of actors, 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 is talking about acting in a purely artistic sense and, with that in mind, maybe he is right that actors are better when they're an unknown quantity to the audience.
But this is the 21st century and acting isn't purely an art form. Hollywood actors are among the wealthiest and most famous people in the world. They are, for better or worse, public figures whose words and actions—both in character and in real life—can be an inspiration to young LGBT people who may be struggling with their sexuality. And Matt Damon just told them to stay in the closet for the sake of their career.