EXCLUSIVE: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Ripped in Lawsuit — Inside Story of How Hollywood Veterans are Being Sued for Portrayals of Cops
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are facing a lawsuit over controversial, corrupt cop portrayals.
May 27 2026, Published 6:30 a.m. ET
Filmmaker buddies Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are being sued by Florida police sergeants Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, who claimed the duo's 2026 movie The Rip falsely portrays them as corrupt cops, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The federal lawsuit brought by the two Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office lawmen names Artists Equity, a production company founded by the Tinseltown titans, as well as Falco Pictures, which helped produce the flick.
The officers claim the film damaged their reputations.
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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are being sued over claims 'The Rip' falsely portrays corrupt cops.
The Rip was billed as being inspired by "true events," which reportedly include the real-life 2016 police raid of a home in Miami Lakes that was linked to a suspected marijuana trafficker, in which $21.9million was discovered in five-gallon buckets.
In the movie, which Netflix released in January, Affleck and Damon play officers in the Miami-Dade Police Department who find millions in cartel cash.
However, the suit – recently filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida – claims the core plot about members of the fictional narcotics unit facing suspicion for allegedly stealing some of the dough is fabricated.
The filing explains the real raid was supervised by Smith and executed by Santana.
Lawsuit Claims Film Ruined Reputations
Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana claimed 'The Rip' used details from a real 2016 Miami Lakes raid.
It also maintains that while the two are not named in the movie, "distinctive elements" of the actual investigation were incorporated, giving viewers the false suggestion they were in any way been involved in wrongdoing and thereby harming Smith and Santana's personal and professional reps.
"The film and its promotional content imply misconduct, poor judgment, and unethical behavior in connection with real law-enforcement operations," the lawsuit stated.
"As a result, Plaintiffs have suffered damage to their reputations, diminished standing among peers and colleagues, and injury to their credibility in law enforcement and professional circles."
Filmmakers Refused Public Retraction Demands
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Artists Equity and Falco Pictures denied allegations tied to the lawsuit over 'The Rip.'
The filing also grips the filmmakers refused to issue a public retraction or implement "corrective measures."
It alleges they argued the storyline has numerous discrepancies in comparison with the actual raid and that the movie features other fictional plotlines.
Attorneys representing Falco and Artists Equity denied the allegations in a March response letter included with the complaint.
The response argued the film used fictional names, settings and storylines and said the movie's disclaimer made clear the story was dramatized and not intended to portray real people.
