Matt Damon “Totally Gets” Why People Are Ripping Guns Off ‘Jason Bourne’ Posters
He doesn't think it's "gratuitous" though, so maybe he doesn't get it.
This year alone, the United States has experienced almost 140 mass shootings and has already racked up a staggering amount of gun-related murders. By this token, it’s unsurprising that some Americans have felt uncomfortable with promotional posters for Matt Damon’s new film Jason Bourne, which very prominently feature Matt Damon pointing a handgun at some invisible assailant, the gun seemingly the main focus of the stark image.
Film and TV producer Tami Sagher, was so frustrated with the poster that she went on social media urging people to tear the gun bit off whenever they came across it. Lena Dunham then shared the post, saying it was a “good idea”.
Just watched two men tear the gun out of this Jason Bourne subway ad. I prefer the palm tree. pic.twitter.com/T1JCnIVWer
— Dalene Rovenstine (@RealDaleneR) July 13, 2016
Glorification of gun violence is a part of the problem. #JasonBournepic.twitter.com/MLGGlXPCP7
— Broddi Sigurðarson (@broddi) July 10, 2016
Today in an interview with E!News, Matt Damon was asked how he felt about people ripping up his posters — and he’s cool with it! “I totally get it. I mean especially given what’s going on recently, and I get not wanting to see a picture of a gun right now, and I don’t blame her at all,” he said. However Damon was also careful to say that for “marketing purposes” it was essential to show Jason Bourne with a gun because “he is a guy who runs around with a gun, so it’s not gratuitous marketing”.
Hm. So he’s not mad about it, but can’t fathom the poster looking any other way. Okay!