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Miami-Dade Officers Sue Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Over Netflix Film 'The Rip'

The case tests how far “inspired by true events” can go before it defames real people.

Overview

  • Two Miami-Dade police officers, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, filed a defamation lawsuit against Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and their production companies over the Netflix film The Rip.
  • They say the movie and its marketing imply police misconduct tied to a 2016 Miami Lakes investigation and use unique details that let viewers identify them.
  • The complaint seeks monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, a public retraction, and a clearer on-screen disclaimer than the phrase “inspired by true events.”
  • The film draws on a case that featured a cash seizure of more than $24 million, and it remains available to stream on Netflix.
  • Affleck and Damon have not commented on the suit, and Hialeah’s mayor has criticized the film’s portrayal of the city.