Matt Damon And Movie Producer Effie Brown Spar Over Racial Diversity On ‘Project Greenlight’

Matt Damon and Effie Brown had a heated discussion about racial diversity on Sunday’s episode of Project Greenlight.

MATT DAMON AND EFFIE BROWN SPAR OVER RACIAL DIVERSITY

Now, Damon is being criticized for his controversial opinions regarding racial diversity and film-making.

During the show, Brown brought up the subject of how the only black person in the script was a hooker who gets beaten by her pimp, and that she merely wanted to be sure that the scene would be handled delicately.

“I just would want to urge people to think about, whoever this director is, the way they’re going to treat the character of Harmony, that her being a prostitute, the only black person being a hooker who gets hit by her white pimp,” she said.

Damon interrupted Brown, saying, “When we talk about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not in the casting of the show.”

Brown was shocked at his response, and so was everyone on social media, where Damon has been heavily criticized for these comments.

Afterwards, in an on-camera confessional, Damon said, “I’m glad Effie flagged the issue of diversity for all of us.” He stood by his convictions, however, stating that he felt the person hired as the director should get the job based on “merit” and nothing else.

The next episode of Project Greenlight airs on Sept. 20.

Go inside the drama of making a comedy with executive producers #MattDamon​ and #BenAffleck​. #ProjectGreenlight​ premieres Sunday, September 13 at 10PM ET/MT.

A photo posted by @hbocanada on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:05pm PDT