Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are facing a lawsuit from Miami police officers over their Netflix crime thriller The Rip, which allegedly depicts them as corrupt. The legal action targets their production company, Artists Equity.
Lawsuit Alleges Defamation
Released in January, the film is inspired by a 2016 Miami-Dade narcotics raid that resulted in the seizure of over $24 million in laundered cash. The movie opens with a disclaimer stating it is based on true events. However, multiple officers involved in the original bust claim the film has caused significant reputational harm.
Jonathan Santana, the lead detective on the 2016 case, 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 faced mockery, with people asking how much money he stole.
Alleged Fabricated Storylines
The lawsuit alleges that The Rip includes fabricated scenes portraying police corruption, cartel dealings, and murder. Specific moments cited involve officers deceiving suspects, maintaining direct contact with cartels, and considering pocketing some of the seized money.
Santana’s lawyer, Ignacio Alvarez, argued: “They portrayed police officers as dirty, they portrayed my clients as dirty. Now their reputations are hurt.” He emphasized that the officers' reputations have been permanently damaged.
Previous Backlash
This is not the first controversy surrounding The Rip. Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo previously criticized the film for portraying his city as dangerous and disrespecting law enforcement. Although the film is inspired by events in Miami Lakes, it is set in Hialeah. Calvo stated: “This movie is a slap in the face to our law enforcement personnel.”
The film stars Damon and Affleck as lead officers conducting the drug raid, with a cast including Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Scott Adkins, and Steven Yeun. The Independent has contacted Alvarez and Artists Equity for comment.
