Actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are facing a lawsuit from Miami police officers over their Netflix film, The Rip. The crime thriller, released in January, stars Damon and Affleck as police officers in the Miami-Dade Police Department narcotics unit. The movie is inspired by the true story of the 2016 Miami Lakes narcotics raid, which became the largest money seizure in Miami-Dade history after police confiscated over $24 million in cash.
Officers Claim Defamation
According to 7 News Miami, multiple police officers involved in the 2016 raid are now suing Affleck and Damon through their production company, Artists Equity. The officers claim that the film unfairly damages their reputation through its negative depiction of them. Jonathan Santana, a deputy for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, told the outlet, "When you rip something, you're stealing something. We never stole a dollar." He also mentioned that he now faces teasing after the film's release, with people accusing him of stealing. "Pretty much saying, you know, how many buckets of money did I steal?" he said.
Legal Representation Speaks Out
Santana's attorney, Ignacio Alvarez, also voiced concerns, stating, "They portrayed police officers as dirty, they portrayed my clients as dirty. Now their reputations are hurt." He added, "My clients are now hurt for the rest of their lives with everybody [perceiving] that they're dirty." Page Six reached out to Affleck and Damon for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Previous Controversy
This is not the first time The Rip — which also stars Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler — has stirred controversy. The film was primarily shot in Hialeah, Florida, and Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo criticized the movie in January, claiming it falsely portrays the city as unsafe. "This movie is a slap in the face to our law enforcement personnel," he said, per 7 News Miami. "If you have never been to Hialeah, if you live somewhere else in this country and you see this film, I wouldn't want to come here, and that's a problem." He added, "The real story that we saw depicted in the movie 'Rip' took place in Miami Lakes."
The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between the filmmakers and law enforcement over the portrayal of the raid. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case may shed further light on the balance between creative storytelling and factual representation.
