Matt Damon and Ben Affleck is in legal trouble regarding his Netflix film The Rip. The actors are reportedly being sued for defamation by Miami police officers over what has been described as an “unfair” portrayal of the cops they portrayed in the film. The crime thriller, released in January, stars Damon and Affleck as officers working in the Miami-Dade Police Department’s narcotics unit.
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The film is inspired by the real-life 2016 narcotics raid on Miami Lakes, which resulted in the largest cash seizure in Miami-Dade history, when authorities recovered more than $20 million in cash. According to 7 News Miami, several executives involved in the operation have now filed a lawsuit against Affleck and Damon through their production company, Artists Equity. Authorities allege that the film presents them in a damaging and unfair light, arguing that its portrayal has tarnished the reputations of those associated with the high-profile raid.
Why are Matt Damon and Ben Affleck being sued?
Jonathan Santana, one of the police officers credited with helping solve the Miami Lakes drug case nearly a decade ago, has now spoken out against Matt Damon and Ben Affleck portray those involved with the investigation as corrupt officials. He claimed that the portrayal had seriously damaged his reputation and that people even mocked and teased him for his association with the case.
According to the official, the false portrayal of corruption allegedly investigated in the Netflix film has directly contributed to the change in how people now view and treat them. Santana, speaking about the types of verbal attacks he receives these days, told the news outlet, “When you rip something, you’re stealing something. We never stole a dollar. You’re pretty much like, you know, how many buckets of money did I steal?”
Santana’s attorney, Ignacio Alvarez, who works at the Algo law firm, said, “They portrayed police officers as dirty; they portrayed my clients as dirty. Now their reputations are hurt. If a person has been paid for a story, they should be compensated for appearing. My clients will now be hurt for the rest of their lives because everyone believes they are dirty.”
The lawsuit, filed in early May on behalf of Coral Gables, further argues that the producers should have hired Santana and fellow officer Jason Smith as consultants for the film rather than hiring another police officer, who, according to them, had no involvement in the original investigation.
The Rip: a controversial portrayal
According to Page Six, this isn’t the first time The Rip has stirred controversy. The film, which was mostly shot in Hialeah, Florida, also faced criticism from the city’s mayor Brian Calvo in January. Calvo accused the film of inaccurately portraying Hialeah as an unsafe and crime-ridden city. He further argued that such a portrayal could discourage outsiders from visiting the area, adding that the negative image created by the film could ultimately harm the city’s reputation.
The Rip is a 2026 Netflix action thriller led by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who play Miami-Dade police officers whose unit begins to unravel after uncovering $20 million in cartel money. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film explores themes of corruption, loyalty, and distrust within law enforcement. The cast also includes Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins and Kyle Chandler.