Defamation Lawsuit Targets Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Studio Over Netflix Thriller
Miami, Sunday, 10 May 2026.
Miami officers who seized $22 million in a 2016 raid are suing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s studio, claiming their 2026 Netflix thriller falsely depicts them as murderous thieves.
The Legal Action and Allegations
On May 6, 2026, Miami-Dade narcotics officers Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana filed a defamation lawsuit in a Florida federal district court [2]. The suit targets Artists Equity—the production company founded in November 2022 by actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon—alongside co-producer Falco Pictures [2][3][4]. The plaintiffs allege that the January 2026 Netflix (NFLX) release, ‘The Rip’, added entirely fabricated plotlines to a real-world drug bust, falsely portraying the officers as corrupt [1][2][3]. Specifically, the legal filing claims the film depicts the law enforcement characters engaging in theft, directly communicating with a drug cartel, and participating in the murder of both a fellow officer and a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent [2][3].
The Real-Life Seizure Versus Hollywood Fiction
The core of the dispute traces back to a massive narcotics bust executed exactly 10 years prior to the film’s release year, taking place on June 29, 2016, in Miami Lakes [3]. During this operation, supervised by Smith with Santana acting as the lead detective, officers discovered an astonishing $21,970,411 in cash [2]. The illicit funds were found concealed within a fake wall and stored in orange buckets [2][3]. While ‘The Rip’ was marketed to audiences as being “inspired by true events,” the plaintiffs maintain that the narrative took malicious creative liberties [1][3]. Santana emphatically rejected the film’s premise, stating, “When you rip something, you’re stealing something. We never stole a dollar” [1][3].
Broader Reputational Fallout and Industry Precedent
The controversy extends beyond the individual officers. The film, while inspired by events in Miami Lakes, shifts its setting to the city of Hialeah, located northwest of Miami [1]. Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo has publicly condemned the production, arguing that it disrespects local law enforcement and paints the city as dangerous, stating, “This movie is a slap hurt” [1]. Furthermore, a Miami-Dade officer who consulted on the production reportedly contacted the plaintiffs to apologize on behalf of director Joe Carnahan, even offering consulting opportunities on future projects [2].