Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are reportedly facing legal trouble connected to their Netflix crime drama The Rip. Two Miami-Dade police officers have filed a lawsuit claiming the movie damaged their reputations by portraying law enforcement officers in a corrupt and unethical light. The case is now drawing attention because the film was marketed as being inspired by real events.
Miami cops sue Matt Damon and Ben Affleck over their portrayal in The Rip
According to the lawsuit, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office officers Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana believe audiences could connect them to characters in The Rip, even though their names are never directly used in the movie. According to EW, the officers claim the film suggests “misconduct” and “poor judgment” tied to a real narcotics investigation from 2016, and has caused “harm” to their name and reputation.
The Netflix movie stars Matt Damon as Lt. Dane Dumars and Ben Affleck as Detective Sgt. J.D. Byrne. The story follows officers who uncover $20 million in cartel money, only to expose corruption inside the Miami-Dade Police Department. Smith and Santana argue the film closely mirrors a real 2016 drug investigation where more than $21 million was seized.
The complaint points to scenes where officers allegedly break procedures, including one moment in which Affleck’s character kills a DEA agent. The officers say those fictional actions created a “reasonable inference” that viewers would associate them with corruption. Their attorneys also claim friends, coworkers, and relatives questioned whether the officers used seized money for expensive purchases after watching the movie.
Adding more heat to the legal battle, the lawsuit is aimed at Artists Equity, the production banner launched by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, along with Falco Productions. The officers involved are asking for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. They’re also pushing for “a public retraction and correction,” plus a disclaimer to be added to the movie.
As per EW, at the time the report surfaced, representatives for Damon, Affleck, and Artists Equity had not issued any public response. Netflix also declined to comment since the platform is not directly named in the lawsuit.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
