Police officers have filed a lawsuit against Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, accusing them of defamation in connection with their new film The Rip, according to a report by NBC News. The actors both starred in and produced the project through their company Artists Equity.
The lawsuit targets the production company owned by Affleck and Damon. While the filing does not specify an exact amount in damages, the plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation, punitive damages, reimbursement of legal fees, and a formal public retraction.
At the center of the dispute is the film’s storyline, which follows two South Florida police officers who discover millions of dollars during a raid. According to the plot, the discovery leads to rising suspicion, tension, and accusations between the partners as each believes the other may be trying to steal the money.
Some elements of the film are reportedly inspired by a real 2016 case in which more than $21 million in cash was found in a Miami Lakes home allegedly linked to drug trafficking activity.
The real-life incident involved sergeants Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana. However, the officers behind the lawsuit argue that even though their names are not used in the film, the inclusion of specific real-world details creates the impression that the characters are based directly on them. They also claim that the movie portrays police officers engaging in criminal behavior, which they say has damaged their reputations.
Affleck and Damon’s legal team has responded by stating that the film’s story was based on accounts provided by Miami-Dade Police Captain Chris Casianno, who served as a technical consultant on the project. They also emphasized that the movie is not intended to depict real individuals or a true retelling of the 2016 incident.
The defense further pointed out that the film includes a disclaimer in its closing credits clarifying that the story is fictional and not based on any specific real persons involved in the case.
