Quick Read
- Matt Damon wore a “BE GOOD” pin protesting fatal ICE shootings at ‘The Rip’ movie premiere on January 13, 2026.
- The pins were created by a grassroots coalition including the ACLU, following the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Keith Porter.
- Other celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, and Jean Smart wore similar pins at the Golden Globe Awards, with Ruffalo criticizing President Trump.
- Comedian Bill Maher expressed skepticism about the necessity of celebrity protest pins on the red carpet.
- ‘The Rip,’ starring and produced by Damon and Ben Affleck, premieres on Netflix on January 16, 2026.
NEW YORK — The glitter and glamour of a Hollywood premiere often serve as a stage for more than just cinematic debuts. On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Matt Damon, co-star and producer of the new Netflix thriller, “The Rip,” transformed the red carpet into a platform for social advocacy. Damon attended the New York City premiere at Alice Tully Hall wearing a simple yet powerful “BE GOOD” pin, a quiet protest against the recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
The pins, which also feature the phrase “ICE OUT,” were conceived by a grassroots coalition that includes the influential American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Their creation followed two tragic incidents: the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on January 7, and the death of Keith Porter, shot by an off-duty ICE agent in Southern California on New Year’s Eve. These events have reignited fierce debates across the nation regarding the conduct and accountability of immigration enforcement.
Damon, 55, known for his long-standing commitment to various causes beyond the silver screen, articulated his motivations to USA TODAY. “I think like millions of people around the country, we’re really concerned with what’s going on,” he stated. “And I think it’s about raising awareness about what’s happening in our cities and on our streets and hopefully will promote a larger discussion about this.” This isn’t an isolated gesture for the Oscar winner, who previously co-founded Water.org, a nonprofit dedicated to providing clean water access, and serves on the entertainment council for Feeding America alongside his longtime friend and “The Rip” co-star, Ben Affleck.
The “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” pins weren’t exclusive to “The Rip” premiere. Just days earlier, at the Golden Globe Awards, a handful of celebrities made similar statements. Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, Jean Smart, and Natasha Lyonne were among those who donned the protest pins, amplifying the message to a global audience. Ruffalo, in particular, used his moment on the red carpet to express profound outrage. “This is for Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered,” he declared, before sharply criticizing President Donald Trump. “He’s the worst human being. If we’re relying on this guy’s morality for the most powerful country in the world, then we’re all in a lot of trouble.” Trump, for his part, had promised “RECKONING & RETRIBUTION” in Minnesota on Tuesday, January 13, a day after state officials moved to block the deployment of immigration agents.
While many in Hollywood embraced the visible stance, not everyone agreed with the method of protest. Comedian Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” voiced his skepticism regarding celebrity activism on awards show red carpets. Nominated for a Golden Globe for his stand-up special “Is Anyone Else Seeing This?” (he ultimately lost to Ricky Gervais), Maher didn’t shy away from offering his perspective. “It was a terrible thing that happened, and it shouldn’t have happened, and if they didn’t act like such thugs, it wouldn’t have had to happen,” Maher commented on Good’s death. “But I don’t need to wear a pin about it.” His remarks underscore the ongoing debate about the efficacy and appropriateness of celebrity-led political statements in entertainment settings.
“The Rip,” a thriller which will be available on Netflix starting January 16, sees Damon and Affleck not only starring but also producing under their Artists Equity banner. The premiere itself was a star-studded affair, with a notable appearance by Teyana Taylor, who joined Damon and Affleck on the red carpet. Taylor, fresh off her Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “One Battle After Another,” added another layer of celebrity power to the event. Other prominent cast members in attendance included Steven Yeun, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Kyle Chandler, and Lina Esco, all of whom contributed to the film’s highly anticipated debut.
The film’s release and its accompanying premiere have become a focal point for a broader conversation about justice, accountability, and the role of public figures in addressing societal issues. Damon’s deliberate choice to use the spotlight of a major movie launch to highlight a deeply contentious matter demonstrates a growing trend among artists to leverage their platforms for meaningful dialogue. Whether through a subtle pin or an impassioned speech, these moments challenge audiences to look beyond the entertainment and engage with the urgent realities shaping the world outside the theater.
The confluence of a major film premiere and a poignant act of protest at a time of heightened political tension reflects a significant shift in how celebrities engage with public discourse. Matt Damon’s “BE GOOD” pin, seemingly small, carried the weight of a powerful message, demonstrating that even subtle gestures on high-profile stages can ignite crucial conversations and underscore the deep divisions within society regarding law enforcement and justice. This strategic use of visibility transforms a mere movie launch into a catalyst for civic engagement, proving that the red carpet can indeed be a vibrant forum for social change, albeit one not without its critics.