Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are facing a lawsuit from Miami police officers through their production company, Artists Equity, over their latest Netflix crime thriller The Rip. The officers allege the film falsely portrays them as corrupt.
Background of the Film
Released in January, The Rip stars Damon and Affleck as lead officers conducting a drug raid. The movie opens with a disclaimer that it is 'inspired by true events.' Writer and director Joe Carnahan has stated it is based on the 2016 Miami Lakes narcotics raid, during which the Miami-Dade Police Department seized over $24 million in laundered cash, the largest money forfeiture in Miami-Dade history.
The Lawsuit
In a new lawsuit, multiple officers involved in the original 2016 bust claim the film has caused 'unfair reputational harm.' Jonathan Santana, the lead detective of the 2016 case, told local outlet 7 News Miami: 'When you rip something, you're stealing something. We never stole a dollar.' Santana noted that since the film's premiere, he has been mocked by people asking how much money he stole.
The lawsuit alleges that The Rip includes fabricated storylines depicting police corruption, cartel dealings, and murder. The complaint cites scenes where officers deceive suspects, maintain contact with the cartel, and consider pocketing some of the uncovered money.
Santana's lawyer, Ignacio Alvarez, argued: 'They portrayed police officers as dirty, they portrayed my clients as dirty. Now their reputations are hurt. My clients are now hurt for the rest of their lives with everybody perceives that they're dirty.'
The Independent has contacted Alvarez and Artists Equity for comment.
Previous Backlash
This is not the first time The Rip has faced backlash. After the film's release, Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo argued that it portrayed his city as dangerous and disrespected law enforcement. Although inspired by events in Miami Lakes, the film is set in Hialeah, northwest of Miami. Calvo stated: 'I know Hialeah has been the butt of the joke for a long time. But that ends now. This movie is a slap in the face to our law enforcement personnel.'
Additional Details
The film also features Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Scott Adkins, and Steven Yeun. The lawsuit seeks damages for reputational harm caused by the alleged false depictions.
