Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are facing a lawsuit from Miami-Dade police officers over their Netflix crime thriller The Rip, which they claim falsely portrays them as corrupt. The suit, filed through the actors’ production company Artists Equity, alleges that the film depicts officers as “dirty” and has caused “unfair reputational harm.”
Released in January, The Rip stars Damon and Affleck as lead officers in a drug raid that uncovers over $24 million in laundered cash. The film opens with a disclaimer that it is “inspired by true events,” referencing a 2016 Miami Lakes narcotics bust that resulted in the largest money forfeiture in Miami-Dade history. However, officers involved in the original case say the film fabricates storylines of police corruption, cartel dealings, and murder.
Lead detective Jonathan Santana told local outlet 7 News Miami: “When you rip something, you’re stealing something. We never stole a dollar.” He added that since the film’s premiere, he has been mocked by people asking “how many buckets of money did I steal?” Santana’s lawyer, Ignacio Alvarez, argued: “They portrayed police officers as dirty, they portrayed my clients as dirty. Now their reputations are hurt.”
The lawsuit cites specific scenes in which officers deceive suspects, maintain direct contact with the cartel, and consider pocketing a portion of the cash. This is not the first backlash against the film; Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo previously criticised it for portraying his city as dangerous and disrespecting law enforcement.
The Independent has contacted Alvarez and Artists Equity for comment.
