Miami police sue Ben Affleck and Matt Damon over alleged reputational damage in The Rip
Miami-Dade executives Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana have sued Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s company over The Rip. He claims that the film’s presentation of a true story and depiction of fictional conduct has damaged his reputation.
Two officers from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, have filed a lawsuit against Artists Equity, the production company founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. incisionThe crime drama directed by Joe Carnahan is scheduled to be released in January 2026.
Authorities allege that the characters portrayed by Affleck and Damon have caused them “significant damage to their personal and professional reputations,” claiming that the Netflix film and its promotional materials “indicate misconduct, poor judgment and unethical behavior in relation to an actual law enforcement operation,” as reported. Entertainment Weekly.
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The lawsuit claims that the film was inspired by a real case from June 2016, in which Smith and Santana seized more than $21 million, and highlights the opening text stating that the film was “inspired by true events.”
Although both officers are not named in the film, their lawyers are demanding a “public retraction and correction”, including “adding a prominent disclaimer” to the film. They are also seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney’s fees Entertainment Weekly.
incision Damon stars as Lieutenant Dan Dumars and Affleck stars as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, two Miami-Dade Police Department officers who uncover corruption within their ranks involving $20 million in cartel cash. The cast also includes Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle and Kyle Chandler. In the film, the two central law enforcement characters break the rules, including a scene in which Affleck’s character kills a DEA agent.
In their lawsuit, Smith and Santana say that the film’s “use of unique, non-common details of the June 29, 2016 investigation, combined with its Miami-Dade setting and depiction of a narcotics team, creates a reasonable inference that the officers depicted are the plaintiffs.”
Lawyers for the officers said the defendants responded to their concerns after the film’s release in January 2026, stating that “the concerns are unfounded because the film did not explicitly name Sergeant Smith and there was no implication that the plaintiffs were involved in any misconduct in the film,” as reported Entertainment Weekly.
Damon and Affleck have yet to address the claims made by Miami authorities.
incision Released on Netflix on January 16, 2026.