In a resurfaced video that has recently gone viral, Hollywood actor Matt Damon can be seen passionately defending the noble profession of teaching and hitting back at an interviewer who was insinuating that teachers have an easy job
Matt Damon Completely Shuts Down Interviewer And Defends Teachers In Resurfaced Video
Matt Damon, the celebrated actor known for his captivating performances in movies like "The Talented Mr. Ripley," recently found himself in the middle of an awkward interview.
However, instead of succumbing to discomfort, Damon took the opportunity to showcase his passion for a subject close to his heart: teaching.
When the interviewer attempted to draw parallels between job insecurity and acting, Damon swiftly shut down the line of questioning.
But he didn't stop there - when the interviewer pressed on, Damon took it upon himself to enlighten them on the challenges that teachers face every day.
His passionate defense of educators not only showcased his depth of knowledge but also shone a light on the often-overlooked importance of this noble profession.
Seeing a celebrity use their platform to speak up for something they believe in is heartening.
It's no surprise that the Air actor was quick to shut down such an insensitive question.
What the interviewer may not have realized is that teaching is a subject very close to Damon's heart.
His mother, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, dedicated her life to education, first as a teacher and then as an early childhood professor at Lesley University.
So when Damon was asked about job insecurity and its effect on his work as an actor, it's understandable why he may have felt frustrated.
But the interviewer didn't know that Damon had just come from supporting his mother at the Save Our Schools rally outside the White House in Washington DC.
As he stood alongside his mother at the demonstration, Damon was suddenly confronted with a question that left him visibly taken aback.
The interviewer asked whether job insecurity and the pressure to perform at a high level were motivating factors for Damon as an actor and whether teachers could apply the same principle to their work.
Damon's response to the interviewer's question was nothing short of impressive. In a moment that would have stumped many, he delivered an answer that would have made any debate team proud.
His response was straightforward and direct: "You think job insecurity is what makes me work hard? I wanna be an actor, it's not an incentive."
However, the Good Will Hunting star wasn't quite done with schooling the interviewer.
Continuing, he angrily said: "It's like saying a teacher is gonna to get lazy when they have tenure… a teacher wants to teach.
"Why else would you take a sh***y salary and long hours and do that job? Unless you really love to do it."
Following the intense exchange, the interviewer attempted to move the conversation forward by bringing up a statistic about a supposed ten percent of teachers being "bad."
Damon's response to this was clear - he was shocked and disheartened by such a shaky statistic.
"Well ok but I mean maybe you are a sh***y cameraman, I dunno know" he added bluntly.
Damon has also supported the #MeToo movement and its impact on the entertainment industry.
Married to Luciana Barroso since 2005, the couple has four daughters together.
Despite not finishing his degree, Damon's education at Harvard has influenced his advocacy for education, as evidenced by his passionate defense of teachers in a recently viral resurfaced video.