Matt Damon plays third wheel as Ben Affleck strolls hand-in-hand with Jennifer Lopez on beach in Malibu – just days after his homophobic slur scandal
Matt Damon was spotted as third wheel on BFF Ben Affleck’s romantic Malibu beach stroll with Jennifer Lopez just days after LGBTQ+ outrage regarding his use of a homophobic slur.
The 50-year-old actor seemed to be trying to put his best foot forward as he walked alongside his 48-year-old best friend/writing partner and 52-year-old actress and singer on Sunday.
Damon had a big smile on his face as he chatted away with the A-list reconciled power couple on the beach near celeb-favorite Paradise Cove.
Three’s a crowd: Matt Damon was spotted as third wheel on BFF Ben Affleck’s romantic Malibu beach stroll with Jennifer Lopez just days after LGBTQ+ outrage regarding his use of a homophobic slur
The trio seemed relaxed as they chatted with a few fellow beachgoers along the way.
Jennifer looked gorgeous as she showed off her legs in a flowy white sheer maxi dress featuring two very high splits.
She accessorized with a large beige belt while holding on to a pair of aviator shades.
Fun in the sun: The 50-year-old actor seemed to be trying to put his best foot forward as he walked alongside his 48-year-old writing partner and 52-year-old actress and singer on Sunday
Wow factor: Jennifer looked gorgeous as she showed off her legs in a flowy white sheer maxi dress featuring two very high splits
Her signature highlighted locks were pulled into a messy ponytail as she showed off her natural looks by going make-up free.
Ben kept it casual in a dark heather grey T-shirt, black jeans and black sneakers.
Matt looked beach ready in a white T-Shirt with black board shorts, a baseball cap and sunglasses.
On-the-go: Ben kept it casual in a dark heather grey T-shirt, black jeans and black sneakers
Hanging loose: Matt looked beach ready in a white T-Shirt with black board shorts, a baseball cap and sunglasses
Last week, Damon was at the center of plenty of backlash after he told The Sunday Times he was using the homophobic slur f****t until ‘just a few months ago’ – when his daughter was forced to tell him it was wrong.
The Bourne star has since clarified that he has never used the slur towards anyone in a demeaning way, but GLAAD has insisted the word should be removed from everyone’s vocabulary completely.
The non-profit said in a statement shared with TMZ, ‘The conversations that have arisen after Matt Damon’s original interview and subsequent remarks today are an important reminder that this word, or any word that aims to disparage and disrespect LGBTQ people, has no place in mainstream media, social media, classrooms, workplaces, and beyond.’
They add, ‘There needs to be accountability at a time when anti-LGBTQ slurs remain rampant today and can fuel discrimination and stereotypes, especially when used by those outside of the community to defame or describe LGBTQ people.’
Courting controversy: Last week, Damon was at the center of plenty of backlash after he told The Sunday Times he was using the homophobic slur f****t until ‘just a few months ago’ – when his daughter was forced to tell him it was wrong (pictured in 2017)
Last Monday, Damon insisted that he stands with the LGBTQ community after sparking furious backlash when he told the publication about a conversation with one of his three daughters – Isabella, 14, Gia, 12, and Stella, 10.
‘The word that my daughter calls the ‘f-slur for a homosexual’ was commonly used when I was a kid, with a different application,’ he said.
‘I made a joke, months ago, and got a treatise from my daughter. She left the table. I said, ‘Come on, that’s a joke! I say it in the movie Stuck on You!’
‘She went to her room and wrote a very long, beautiful treatise on how that word is dangerous.
‘I said, ‘I retire the f-slur!’ I understood.’
Damon has since issued a clarification. ‘I have never called anyone ‘f****t’ in my personal life and this conversation with my daughter was not a personal awakening,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter. I do not use slurs of any kind.’
Family: Matt and his wife Luciana Barroso, 45, have daughters Isabella, 14, Gia, 12, and Stella, 10. She has daughter Alexia Barroso, 22, from a previous relationship with Arbello Barroso
Meanwhile, Lopez rekindled her romance with Affleck just months ago after calling off her engagement to MLB star Alex Rodriguez in April.
Lopez and Affleck started dating in 2002 and announced their engagement that November.
In September 2003, just days before the couple was to say ‘I do,’ they called off their wedding. Months later the couple broke up for good in January 2004.
Loved up: Meanwhile, Lopez rekindled her romance with Affleck just months ago after calling off her engagement to MLB star Alex Rodriguez in April, they are seen in Capri, Italy last month
Lopez and Affleck started dating in 2002 and announced their engagement that November then in September 2003, just days before the couple was to say ‘I do,’ they called off their wedding. Months later the couple broke up for good in January 2004, seen in March 2003
Before his most recent controversy, Damon joked that he wished the rekindled pair ‘nothing but hardship’ during a July 27 interview on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show.
Damon’s jested about the loved up pair come amid Bennifer’s international tour de romance which most recently had a stop in Italy.
The Bourne Identity actor was asked to comment on his longtime friends very public romance with the Hustler’s actress during a virtual interview.
Wisecrack: Before his most recent controversy, Damon joked that he wished the rekindled pair ‘nothing but hardship’ during a July 27 interview on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show
‘You’re very happy for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, I know you love getting asked about that,’ Cagle began, which drew a smile from Damon.
‘Right’ he said laughing, ‘But how else would I be? Like, would I be unhappy? Like “I hate true love, it sucks,”‘ he quipped while cracking up.
‘…I wish them nothing but, you know, hardship,’ he continued to say which drew laughter from the hosts.
Got his back: Asked to comment on his longtime friends very public romance with the Hustler’s actress during a virtual interview he laughed ‘…I wish them nothing but, you know, hardship’
‘It sucks’: ‘But how else would I be? Like, would I be unhappy? Like ‘I hate true love, it sucks” Damon quipped of the question while cracking up
All jokes aside, earlier this week Damon revealed his true thoughts on the pair’s relationship and seeing those very sizzling butt grabbing bikini pictures during their continued European vacation.
During the red carpet premiere of his new movie Stillwater on July 26, Matt told Extra: ‘I’m just so happy for him. He’s the best. He deserves every happiness in the world. I’m glad for both of them.’
Damon and Affleck have an over 40 year friendship as they have been friends since childhood when their mother’s introduced them.
Ben was eight at the time as Matt was 10 and they lived just a few blocks away from each other while growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Elated: ‘I’m just so happy for him. He’s the best. He deserves every happiness in the world. I’m glad for both of them,’ Damon told EXTRA on July 27; pictured 2017
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