Whoopi Goldberg used her daytime talkshow The View on Tuesday to talk through Matt Damon’s recent remarks urging gay actors to keep their sexuality to themselves—the Oscar-winning actress does not agree.
“People out you,” she went on. “People tell your business whether you tell your business or not. in terms of mystique and all of that stuff, you know, you used to be able to make that choice for yourself.”
In a recent interview, The Martian star told The Guardian that being in the closet should be the way to go for actors who value their craft.
“I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that,” he said. “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 also under fire this week for downplaying diversity behind the camera during a scene in which he dismisses “Dear White People” producer Effie Brown on his HBO show, “Project Greenlight.”
“When we’re talking about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not in the casting of the show,” Damon retorted to Brown, the only black woman in the room.
The real “mystery” Damon won’t be able to play again lies in his values, of which he’s made perfectly clear this week: the semblance of diversity counts more than the real thing. We stand with you, Whoopi.
Watch The View sound off on Matt Damon below:
