Matt Damon Has Twitter Seeing Red Over 'Project Greenlight' Diversity Comment

Matt Damon has come under fire on social media for an exchange that aired during Sunday night’s season premiere of HBO docu-series “Project Greenlight.”

In choosing a director for a comedy with a black prostitute as a main character, Damon and his fellow producers – including Ben Affleck, the Farrelly brothers and “Dear White People” producer Effie Brown – debated the finalists they had to choose from.

Brown lobbied for the directing duo of Leo Angelos & Kristen Brancaccio, an Asian man and white woman, arguing they could bring a diverse perspective to the script.

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“I would want to urge people to think about – whoever this director is, how they’re going to treat the character of Harmony,” she said. “The only black character who’s a hooker who gets hit by her white pimp.”

Damon retorted that Angelos and Brancaccio, out of the group of finalists, were the only ones who did not bring up the potentially problematic issues with the Harmony character.

“So on the surface they look like one thing, but they might end up giving us something we don’t want,” he said.

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But his next statement is when viewers decided he crossed a line.

“When we’re talking about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not in the casting of the show,” he said, referring to the need to focus on diversity during casting, not during the staffing of the show.

“Wow. Okay!” Brown answered in amazement.

Many social media users were just as exasperated as Brown. They relentlessly roasted Damon on Twitter and caused the hashtag #damonsplaining to trend for several hours on Monday.

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“Matt Damon speaking over the only black person in the room so he can explain diversity to her is SO WHITE it hurts,” said Twitter user MrPooni, whose tweet has been retweeted over 3,000 times and favorited nearly 2,500 times.

“Project Greenlight” ended up choosing New York-based director Jason Mann, a white male, for the job, and the rest of the season is set to follow Mann as he sets out to direct the Farrelly brothers’ script, “Not Another Pretty Woman.”

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Reps for Damon have not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Below is a sampling of social media reactions to the “Project Greenlight” exchange:

https://twitter.com/HollaBlackGirl/status/643549105315164160

"You see, successful black woman, diversity is whatever white, straight, men say it is." – Matt Damon, 2015. #Damonsplaining

— Derek Halliday (@DTHalliday) September 14, 2015

Because Matt Damon is a smart guy. And a well-meaning guy. AND he knew cameras were on him. And that’s STILL what came out.

— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) September 14, 2015

If at any point u grow tired of #Damonsplaining tweets, think of how sick PoC are of being 'splained to, insulted & expected to stay quiet.

— lauren w. (@iamlaurenp) September 14, 2015

If I have questions about diversity and what it means to me as a woman of color, I'll ask Matt Damon #Damonsplaining pic.twitter.com/iTw7ayYwgM

— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) September 14, 2015

Oh Matt Damon, you stepped right into it this time. And I ain't handing you a stick to wipe your shoe, either.

— javachik (@javachik) September 15, 2015

Most people in Hollywood always do (A) but Matt Damon is not most people. Which makes me hope he chooses (B) and learns from his mistake.

— Samantha (@SamDyeK) September 15, 2015

Matt Damon did what's called "putting her in her place." A customary and accepted practice. No one white stopped him. You see?

— Indica Irie (@lotyslove) September 15, 2015

https://twitter.com/jennd1989_jenn/status/643578658523758592

Very odd to see people react to the Matt Damon diversity moment as if it was something overheard rather than deliberately shaped. 1/2

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) September 14, 2015

It's cut to emphasize him cutting Effie Brown off. It ends with a closeup of her extreme skepticism. Interrogate that.

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) September 14, 2015

Fall TV Preview: 126 New and Returning Shows Premiere Dates

“The Awesomes” (Hulu) Tuesday, Sept. 8
Hulu
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 11:35 p.m.
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“The League” (FXX) Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 p.m.
FXX
“You’re the Worst” (FXX) Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10:30 p.m.
FXX
“Longmire” (Netflix) Thursday, Sept. 10
Netflix
“Z Nation” (Syfy) Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m.
Syfy
“Continuum” (Syfy) Friday, Sept. 11 at 11 p.m.
Syfy
“Project Greenlight” (HBO) Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10 p.m.
HBO
“Doll & Em” (HBO) Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10:40 p.m.
HBO
“Dancing With the Stars” (ABC) Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.
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“The Mindy Project” (Hulu) Tuesday, Sept. 15
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“Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris” (NBC) Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
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“The Bastard Executioner” (FX) Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
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“South Park” (Comedy Central) Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m.
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“Moonbeam City” (Comedy Central) Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10:30 p.m.
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“Doctor Who” (BBC America) Saturday, Sept. 19
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“The Voice” (NBC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
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“Gotham” (Fox) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Life in Pieces” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:30 p.m.
CBS
“Minority Report” (Fox) Monday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.
Fox
“Scorpion” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Castle” (ABC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Blindspot” (NBC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Scream Queens” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“NCIS” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“The Muppets” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
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“Fresh off the Boat” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8:30 p.m.
ABC
“NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Limitless” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Survivor” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Rosewood” (Fox) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Mysteries of Laura” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“The Middle” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“The Goldbergs” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Empire” (Fox) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
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“Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
NBC
“Modern Family” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
ABC
“black-ish” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9:30 p.m.
ABC
“Nashville” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Heroes Reborn” (NBC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“Scandal” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m.
ABC
“The Player” (NBC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Last Man Standing” (ABC) Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“The Amazing Race” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Hawaii Five-0” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Shark Tank” (ABC) Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.
“Blue Bloods” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m.
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“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Fox
“The Simpsons” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“Once Upon a Time” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
ABC
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” Finale (CBS) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Family Guy” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
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“Blood & Oil” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
ABC
“The Last Man on Earth” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9:30 p.m.
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“Quantico” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central) Monday, Sept. 28 at 11 p.m.
Comedy Central
“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
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“Grandfathered” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Grinder” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 p.m.
Fox
“Beyond the Tank” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Criminal Minds” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Code Black” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Chicago PD” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Bones” (Fox) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“The Blacklist” (NBC) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
NBC
“Sleepy Hollow” (Fox) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
Fox
“Benders” (IFC) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 10 p.m.
IFC
“Dr. Ken” (ABC) Friday, Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m.
ABC
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC) Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11:30 p.m.
NBC
“Madam Secretary” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“The Leftovers” (HBO) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
HBO
“Homeland” (Showtime) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
Showtime
“The Good Wife” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“CSI: Cyber” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“The Affair” (Showtime) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
Showtime
“The Flash” (CW) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.
CW
“iZombie” (CW) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m.
CW
“Finding Carter” (MTV) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m.
MTV
"Casual" (Hulu) Wednesday, Oct. 7
Hulu
“Arrow” (CW) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.
CW
“Supernatural” (CW) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9 p.m.
CW
“American Horror Story: Hotel” (FX) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 10 p.m.
FX
“The Vampire Diaries” (CW) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m.
CW
“The Originals” (CW) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m.
CW
“Haven” (Syfy) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10 p.m.
Syfy
“Funny or Die’s Billy on the Street” (truTV) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 p.m.
truTV
“Red Oaks” (Amazon) Friday, Oct. 9
Amazon
“Reign” (CW) Friday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
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“Undateable” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“The Last Kingdom” (BBC America) Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 p.m.
BBC America
“The Walking Dead” (AMC) Sunday, Oct. 11 at 9 p.m.
AMC
“The Talking Dead” (AMC) Sunday, Oct. 11 at 10:30 p.m.
AMC
“Crazy Ex-Girlfrind” (CW) Monday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.
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“Jane the Virgin” (CW) Monday, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m.
CW
“Fargo” (FX) Monday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m.
FX
“Manhattan” (WGN) Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 9 p.m.
WGN
“Chicago Fire” (NBC) Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10 p.m.
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“Kingdom” (DirecTV) Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 9 p.m.
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“Nathan for You” (Comedy Central) Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10 p.m.
Comedy Central
“The Knick” (Cinemax) Friday, Oct. 16
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“Truth Be Told” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 16 at 8:30 p.m.
NBC
“Satisfaction” (USA) Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m.
USA
“Please Like Me” (Pivot) Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m.
Pivot
“RocketJump: The Show” (Hulu) Wednesday, Oct. 21
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“Hemlock Grove” (Netflix) Friday, Oct. 23
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“Da Vinci’s Demons” (Starz) Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.
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“Supergirl” (CBS) Monday, Oct. 26 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Wicked City” (ABC) Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Grimm” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 p.m.
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“Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Starz) Saturday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m.
Starz
“Major Crimes” (TNT) Monday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m.
TNT
“Legends” (TNT) Monday, Nov. 2 at 10 p.m.
TNT
“Angel From Hell” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9:30 p.m.
CBS
“Mom” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Elementary” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Master of None” (Netflix) Friday, Nov. 6
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“MasterChef Junior” (Fox) Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.
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“Flesh and Bone” (Starz) Sunday, Nov. 8
Starz
“Chicago Med” (NBC) Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Donny!” (USA) Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 p.m.
USA
“Into the Badlands” (AMC) Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10 p.m.
AMC
“The Man in the High Castle” (Amazon) Friday, Nov. 20
Amazon