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Matt Damon Under Fire for Implying Gay Actors Should Stay in The Closet

Someone needs to think more before speaking

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Shelli Weinstein

Matt Damon is in trouble once again for his comments, this time about sexuality and actors being openly gay in Hollywood.

In an interview with the Guardian, Damon seemed to suggest that gay actors are simply better off to stay in the closet after being asked if he thinks its harder for actors to be openly gay in Hollywood. "I'm sure," he said while discussing his role as Liberace's lover in Behind the Candelabra. "When Ben [Affleck] and I first came on the scene there were rumors that we were gay because it was two guys who wrote a script together."

Such gossip, he said, put the two "in a weird position of having to answer...Which was then really deeply offensive. I don't want to, like [imply] it's some sort of disease - then it's like I'm throwing my friends under the bus." He continued on to say that he believes all actors are better off trying to maintain a certain level of privacy, gay or straight.

Matt Damon apologizes for his offensive comments about diversity

"I think it must be really hard for actors to be out publicly," he added. "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."

Naturally, Twitter has already called Damon out for what he said.

To be fair, Damon was attempting to paint a broad stroke about actors' ability to maintain some privacy, but this isn't the first time in recent weeks that his word choice has bungled a possibly well-intentioned criticism of Hollywood culture. Two weeks ago he apologized for implying on Project Greenlight that diversity in filmmaking was a non-issue.

Video: Matt Damon under fire over Hollywood diversity comments