dailyloe.com – Matt Damon and Ben Affleck face a lawsuit from Miami police regarding their Netflix film, The Rip. The lawsuit was filed through their production company, Artists Equity. The police allege that the film inaccurately depicts them as ‘dirty.’
The Rip, released in January, begins with a disclaimer stating it is ‘inspired by true events.’ Joe Carnahan, the writer and director, mentioned that the film is based on a 2016 narcotics raid in Miami Lakes.
During this raid, the Miami-Dade Police Department, now known as the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Department, seized over $24 million in laundered cash. This event marked the largest money forfeiture in Miami-Dade history.
According to local outlet 7 News Miami, several officers from the original 2016 bust claim the film has resulted in ‘unfair reputational harm.’ Jonathan Santana, the lead detective on the case, expressed that he has faced ridicule since the premiere of The Rip.
In his statement, Santana remarked, ‘When you rip something, you’re stealing something. We never stole a dollar.’ He highlighted the contrast between past praise for his work and current public mockery.
The film features Damon and Affleck as the lead officers involved in the drug raid. The plot explores their team dynamics as they uncover a significant amount of cash, testing their alliance and trust.
The cast includes Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Scott Adkins, and Steven Yeun. The lawsuit claims that The Rip fabricates storylines that imply police corruption, cartel connections, and murder.
Specific scenes cited in the lawsuit depict officers deceiving suspects and maintaining ties with the cartel while considering illegal actions regarding the seized money.
Ignacio Alvarez, representing the officers, argued, ‘They portrayed police officers as dirty, they portrayed my clients as dirty.’ He emphasized the lasting impact on their reputations.
Alvarez stated, ‘Now their reputations are hurt. My clients are now hurt for the rest of their lives with everybody perceives that they’re dirty.’
This is not the first controversy surrounding The Rip. Following its release, Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo criticized the film for misrepresenting his city.
