When asked by the London Guardian if it’s harder for actors to be openly gay in Hollywood, Damon said: “I’m sure.  When Ben and I first came on the scene there were rumours that we were gay because it was two guys who wrote a script together.  It’s just like any piece of gossip…and it put us in a weird position of having to answer, you know what I mean?  Which was then really deeply offensive.  I don’t want to, like [imply] it’s some sort of disease – then it’s like I’m throwing my friends under the bus.  But at the time, I remember thinking and saying, Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy – more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor – it’s tough to make the argument that he didn’t take a hit for being out.  I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period.  And sexuality is a huge part of that.  Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”

All I got out of that is Matt’s got a little man crush on Rupert Everett!  When he first came out, Rupert was cocky, arrogant, abrasive, and often smelled.  Difficult to work with doesn’t even scratch the surface.  He certainly wasn’t the model of professionalism, so I suspect being gay was the least of his offenses – although I’m sure it didn’t help.  Back to Matt.  He clarified his point on Ellen: “I was just trying to say actors are more effective when they’re a mystery.  And somebody picked it up and said I said gay actors should get back in the closet.  Which is like, I mean, it’s stupid, but it is painful when things get said that you don’t believe.”  I hope we’ve cleared that up.