Netflix's The Rip Controversy: Why Miami Officers are Suing Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

• Primary Subject: The Rip (Netflix film) Defamation Lawsuit
• Key Update: Two Miami-Dade deputies have filed a lawsuit against Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's production company, Artists Equity, alleging the film The Rip falsely portrays them as "dirty" and corrupt.
• Status: Litigation Ongoing (Lawsuit filed May 6, 2026)
• Last Verified: May 12, 2026
• Quick Answer: Miami-Dade deputies Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana are suing for defamation, claiming the Netflix film The Rip wrongfully associates them with fictionalized police corruption.

Following the January release of the Netflix thriller, The Rip, real-life law enforcement is taking action. Two deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, filed a defamation lawsuit on May 6, 2026, in a Florida federal court.

Real-Life Miami Cops are Suing The Rip Filmmakers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

Credit: Artists Equity

Written and directed by Joe Carnahan (Narc, Smokin' Aces, The Grey), The Rip spins a tale of corruption and betrayal within the Miami-Dade Police Department. The Netflix thriller stars producers Matt Damon (as Lieutenant Dane Dumars) and Ben Affleck (as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne) as the lead Miami Detectives who uncover $20 million of cartel cash in a safe house.

According to rumors, The Rip's story is believed to have been inspired by real-life cops Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana, specifically their June 2016 incident when they seized more than $21 million. New reports state they're now bringing a lawsuit against the production company, Artists Equity, which Affleck and Damon founded.

Affleck and Damon's Falco Productions is also being accused of "defamation per se" and "defamation by implication."

According to Entertainment Weekly, the officers say that while their names were not mentioned or confirmed in the film, they are clearly associated with the story, so much so that it could lead to "substantial harm to their personal and professional reputations."

They believe the movie and its trailers "imply misconduct, poor judgment, and unethical behavior in connection with a real law enforcement operation."

Smith and Santana have also brought a claim for "intentional infliction of emotional stress," as they claim that the film's "non-generic details" of the June 29, 2016, investigation and its portrayal of the Miami-Dade setting and narcotics team "creates a reasonable inference that the officers depicted are Plaintiffs."

This is Not the First Time The Rip Filmmakers Faced Backlash from Police

Credit: Artists Equity

Multiple moments from The Rip were cited by lawyers where police procedure was not followed, and claimed that friends, family, and colleagues believe they "must have used seized funds to complete personal property improvements, purchase vehicles and vessels, and afford private schooling for their children."

The complaint claims they sent The Rip filmmakers and the crew a "cease and desist" order in December 2025, and were told in January 2026 (after The Rip's release) that their concerns were "unfounded," as the movie "did not expressly name Sergeant Smith and there was no implication that the Plaintiffs engaged in any misconduct in the film."

Miami officers are seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees, as well as a public retraction and correction, including "the addition of a prominent disclaimer" to the film.

Affleck, Damon, and Artists Equity's representatives have yet to respond for comment.

Keep it locked on EpicStream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!