Matt Damon Says Cancel Culture Can Be More Punishing Than Prison During Joe Rogan Interview

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are continuing promotion for their upcoming Netflix film The Rip, and their latest stop sparked a wider cultural conversation. During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Damon spoke candidly about cancel culture in Hollywood, describing it as a form of punishment that can feel endless and inescapable.

Speaking with Joe Rogan, Damon reflected on how public shaming often has no clear endpoint. Rogan described being canceled as having one mistake exaggerated until a person is “cast out of civilization for life.” Damon agreed, emphasizing the permanence of the backlash.

“In perpetuity,” Damon said, noting that the consequences never seem to end. He added that some people who have been canceled might have preferred serving a defined prison sentence instead. At least then, he said, there is a moment when society agrees the punishment is over. With cancel culture, the criticism can follow someone “to the grave.”

Damon’s Own Experience With Online Backlash

Damon is no stranger to internet outrage. In 2021, he faced widespread criticism after an interview with The Sunday Times in which he said he had only recently stopped using a homophobic slur after his daughter explained why the word was harmful. The comments sparked immediate backlash online.

Soon after, Damon issued a detailed statement to Variety, clarifying his remarks. He said he never used slurs in his personal life and does not use them at all. Damon explained that he was recalling a broader cultural context from his childhood in Boston, when such language was used casually and without understanding its harm.

He also praised his daughter for challenging him and expressing how deeply hurtful the word has always been to the LGBTQ+ community, regardless of whether it was once socially normalized. Damon said the conversation made him proud of her values and commitment to social justice.

“I have learned that eradicating prejudice requires active movement toward justice,” Damon wrote, adding that he stands firmly with the LGBTQ+ community and understands why many people assumed the worst after the initial interview.

Career Continues Unharmed

Despite the controversy, Damon’s career showed little sign of lasting damage. He went on to star in major projects including Air and Oppenheimer. Later this year, he will return to theaters in the lead role of The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan.

As the debate over cancel culture continues, Damon’s comments highlight a growing concern in Hollywood: that public accountability, when it has no clear limits, can feel less like justice and more like a life sentence.