MIAMI – Two police officers from South Florida have brought a defamation lawsuit against Ben Affleck and Matt Damon over their new action thriller, “The Rip.” The officers, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, claim that the film used too many real-life details, which harmed their reputations both personally and professionally.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Miami and targets Artists Equity, the production company owned by Affleck and Damon. While the court documents do not specify how much money the officers are seeking, they are asking for compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, and a public retraction and correction of the film’s portrayal.
In “The Rip,” Affleck and Damon play police officers in South Florida who discover millions of dollars hidden in a house. The movie draws inspiration from a real 2016 incident in which authorities found over $21 million linked to a suspected marijuana trafficker in a Miami Lakes home.
While promoting the film, Affleck and Damon mentioned that the story was loosely based on experiences shared by Miami-Dade Police Captain Chris Casiano, who served as a technical advisor for the movie. Damon explained that they aimed to understand the dynamics of police work, especially in high-stakes situations where officers rely heavily on each other.
However, an attorney for Artists Equity declined to comment on the lawsuit but mentioned in a previous response that the film does not claim to portray a true story or real individuals, as indicated by a disclaimer in the movie’s credits.
Despite not being named in the film, the lawsuit alleges that Santana was the lead detective in the actual case and Smith was the supervising sergeant. The officers argue that the movie’s use of real details creates the impression that the fictional characters are based on them. The film depicts serious criminal acts, such as conspiring to steal drug money and even murder, suggesting a connection that the officers claim has damaged their reputations.
The attorney for Artists Equity pointed out that the plaintiffs have not identified which characters in the film they believe are based on them, making it challenging to link the characters to the officers. They argue that even if the film were based on a real narcotics team, there’s no direct connection to Smith or Santana.
Directed by Joe Carnahan, “The Rip” premiered on Netflix in January and currently holds a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a generally positive reception from audiences.
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Associated Press video journalist Brooke Lefferts in New York contributed.
