South Florida police officers sue Ben Affleck and Matt Damon over 'The Rip'
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Two Miami-Dade police sergeants, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's production company, Artists Equity, over the film "The Rip," alleging it used too many real-life details that harmed their reputations.
- The lawsuit claims the film's fictional narrative closely mirrors a 2016 case in which the officers were involved, portraying characters who engage in serious crimes such as theft, murder, and collusion with cartels, leading to damaging public perceptions of the officers.
- Artists Equity denies the film depicts real events or people, citing a disclaimer in the credits, and argues that the plaintiffs have not identified which characters are based on them, challenging the connection between the officers and the film's portrayal.
- The officers seek compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, and a public retraction and correction, though the lawsuit does not specify the amount of monetary compensation sought.