Here are some new photos of Matt Damon out and about with his daughter Stella in LA. I’ve noticed something very strange lately – the paparazzi are getting more and more candid photos of Matty D since he moved back to LA, buying a house just down the street from Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. CB and I were just theorizing if the same group of paparazzi who grab daily photos of Garner and her kids are the same paps getting photos of Matt and his girls. Probably, right?
What’s interesting about this situation is that Matty D has spent the past few years bragging (rather smugly!) about how lucky he was to “fall in love with a civilian” and how the paps don’t care about him as much as they care about Garner-Affleck and Brangelina. In Matty’s Esquire interview, he discussed the paparazzi at length, claiming that he’s always been able to walk his kids to school with no pap drama. Matty bragged: “But I don’t really give them anything… there’s not really any story to tell. They can try to stake me out, but they’re always going to get the same story—middle-aged married guy with four kids. So as long as that narrative doesn’t change too much, there’s no appetite for it.” Well, the paparazzi are getting interested in that. Because it’s always good business for the paps to get photos of a movie star with his kids. The industry has changed.
Also, in a weird turn of events, Matty D’s new movie (and potential Oscar-contender) has been pushed back. I’m telling you, this is a really weird, jam-packed awards season. According to Deadline, George Clooney’s The Monuments Men has been “pushed to an unspecified date in early 2014. We’ve learned that the pic was delayed because visual effects could not be completed in time for the Sony film’s scheduled December 18 release date.” Yeah right. It’s much more likely that Clooney realized how crowded the awards season field is this year and decided to wait to release The Monuments Men until next year so it would be more of an awards contender.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
And so it goes. I doubt he calls them however like some others do.
I don’t understand why he moved to L.A. Of course he’s papped more there! Especialley when he lives close to the Afflecks!
I think this actually proves the “calling” accusations wrong when it comes to Garner/Affleck.
People on this site have assumed that the photos of mundane outings = calls to paparazzi when it comes to the Afflecks. However, since it happens to Damon just like Affleck, it seems it is just the allure of likable celeb parents that was the draw…not phone calls.
I can’t wait til he starts rocking Red Sox gear for the World Series! What WHAT?!
I don’t think he was smug, I think he knew that Ben and Jen called and thought little of that. I also think he figured that since it wasn’t a two celebrity household it probably didn’t matter. However, I think he may have ended unknowingly baiting them. They really shouldn’t be allowed to take those kids pictures.
On a side note that little girl is so insanely cute. I can’t believe it. To sweet.
I think he’s very smug. Not just his comments about the paps but other things he has said over the years. It’s really turned me off on him. I don’t want this for his kids but there’s a part of me that loves his words coming back to haunt him.
Methinks Mr. Damon doth protest too much!
it’s really pathetic of them to push the release date of their movies because this year’s Oscar-worthy movies seem like too many. just to get that goddamn Oscar.. wow
I thought that was a bit shady too. But no one will call them out like they would others. George makes movies for Awards recognition. I don’t care what he says.
Actually, the move will give them LESS chance at an Oscar.
They are aiming for February of 2014. If they wanted to be considered this year, it needs to be out earlier. If they want to be considered for next year, they would want to release it in October at the verrrrry earliest. They release films that want consideration close to the nominating/voting time at the end of the year so that it is still fresh in people’s minds. A movie released on February or Q1 or Q2 2014 will be stale and forgotten by Oscar time in 2014.
If only we could put up pictures or gif on this site, because this would be a good moment to use the Nelson from The Simpson “Ha Ha!” pic right now.
If he knew that the paps hang around Ben and Jen neighborhood why the heck did he move there? Plenty of A-list celebs live in LA and they haven’t been papped with their kids half as much as the Damons have since they moved there. Anyway, can’t wait to hear how he spins this to make him look like the humblest and most down to earth celeb amongst his friends.
Ha! I agree completely.
The areas of Brentwood and Pacific Palisades are little neighborhood communities. They have a lot of quaint little shops that are easy to get to and the towns have sort of a small town vibe with the convenience of being more easily accessable to other areas of the entertainment industry (some areas of LA like Malibu, Calabasas, etc. make commutes to other areas VERY difficult).
A lot of other celebs live in gaited communties. These can be more secure, but they aren’t as convenient when it comes to things like stepping out to get a carton of milk or going to a meeting. I think they probably chose to live where they did because it is so quaint.
She’s adorable!
I know!! Those photos are so adorable!
He forgets he’s Matt Damon and people always want to see Matt Damon.
Yup.
And having super adorable kids doesn’t hurt either.
She looks so much like her mom…
Yes, but I also see Matt in her face. She’s a perfect blend, it looks like. Adorable!
its not a surprise. the paps camp outside the Affleck-Garner house so they will get pics of people living in the street, too.
its a matter of where you live. paps also photograph z-list celebs so they certainly will take a pic of Matt Damon, no matter who he is married to.
I have seen him interact with customers & staff on several occasions. He, his wife, nanny, children are always pleasant. Low key, children always well behaved. I have never witnessed him draw attention to himself. Most people don’t recognize him and he makes no special effort to be incognito. When he has been recognized he always chats with the person. Accepts accolades gracefully and pleasantly chats about whatever that person chooses which, interestingly, is not solely about his films. Bumping into Matt Damon is like running into a neighbor at the grocery store.
Aww that is so nice to hear… I always thought he seemed very down to earth and intelligent in interviews. He grew up and hung out with Howard Zinn!
Naomi, that was lovely!
Damon is intelligent and seems to suffer from no social insecurities, etc. So, having a random, casual chat is probably effortless for him, whereas I think it takes a lot out of other more timid actors.
I agree that Damon is as pleasant as a person could be for a famous person. I saw him at a film premiere and compared to his co-stars, like George Clooney and Brad Pitt for example, he actually took his time talking to people, posing for pics, signing things. He seems like a pretty nice guy.
@pf
not sure what premier you are talking about. But I KNOW that Brad is known for spending a lot of time signing autographs for fans before he talks to the press. George to my knowledge signs too. so not sure what the point was. I have not heard any fan say Brad or even George are not accessible and friendly to them
Matt has even said this about both men.
This is great to hear, so much that is said on celebrity sites from people that have never met the celebrity, it’s nice to know that Matt has acted as the down-to-earth person that I expected he was. I’m actually surprised by some of the snide comments made towards him and his wife, I always felt he’s pretty honest about how they don’t get a lot of attention from the paps and how he’s thankful for it.
@Naomi …
Thanks for this! 🙂 He and his wife get a lot of shade, and I for one really don’t understand why. 🙁
Surprising, I think he gets so much shade ‘because’ he’s so down to earth and seems to care deeply about social conditions and the world we all live on. Sad.
Thanks for sharing!
DILF.
@Aemish
I am definitely not a friend but have had enough interaction with he and his family to not believe that he is smug or arrogant. They are down to earth.
How’s it going to be more of an awards contender if it’s released early in the year and everyone therefore forgets about it? Uhhh, wouldn’t they be better off delaying it even more?
It’s too bad; I actually wanted to see that one. I mean, I can obviously still see it when it comes out later, but I was looking forward to cheering for it (if it is good) during *this* awards season.
I’m looking forward to Thr Monuments Men. There are a lot of good films coming out now. Releasing it now might lessen the chances of it being seen because there is so much good work out there. A later release date might allow it the acclaim it deserves. That being said it may be a strong film but not necessarily strong enough against the current batch.
Well I used to see pics of his kids weekly when they were in NYC on baby blogs.Maybe it was just one photographer assigned to them as opposed to a group of them in CA.SJP ‘ twins are also constantly pap’d as well as Naomi and Lievs boys.Every other day there are pics on celebrity baby blogs of all these kids.
Matt and family were only photographed a few times a year in NY. They certainly weren’t in the baby blogs weekly, but others are (Naomi/Liev, SJP).
@Kaiser, who wrote: “What’s interesting about this situation is that Matty D has spent the past few years bragging (rather smugly!) about how lucky he was to “fall in love with a civilian” and how the paps don’t care about him as much as they care about Garner-Affleck and Brangelina.”
I’ll never understand your Matt Damon shade, but to each his or her own. 🙂
I don’t think Matt has been smug at all in pointing out the media circus ‘ills’ of his friends. Nor do I think he’s been smug about how lucky he is to have fallen in love with someone who isn’t in the ‘Industry.’
The Damons didn’t sell their NYC home on the Upper West Side. I believe him when he says they won’t put up with (or put their kids through) the same media circus their friends endure and will move back to NYC in a heart beat if the media scrutiny gets too intense.
I think Matty D. rubs people the wrong way because he’s an average looking Joe, who isn’t dumb, and has no problem sharing his views on the things he’s most passionate about. He is a man who ‘Walks his Talk.’ He also spends a lot of his own money on his projects like Water.org.
Some people feel he’s not entitled to voice his opinion, and would rather he be a mute, empty-headed plastic man.
I’m glad he tries to keep it real. Rock on, Matty D. … rock on. 🙂
They didn’t buy a house in NY as they couldn’t find one suitable.
@Jane, who wrote: “They didn’t buy a house in NY as they couldn’t find one suitable.”
Until their recent move to Los Angeles, the Damons lived ‘somewhere’ on the Upper West Side of NYC since 2010. I consider wherever they lived a ‘home.’ 🙂
Great actor and decent man. His daughter is adorable
Matt is a well-established A-lister who wasn’t hurting for good roles and work he was interested in. Why the need to move to Hollywood when he has said in the past that he prefers NYC & Florida? Why subjet your family to aggressive paps if you don’t have to?
@Caitlin, who wrote: “Matt is a well-established A-lister who wasn’t hurting for good roles and work he was interested in. Why the need to move to Hollywood when he has said in the past that he prefers NYC & Florida? Why subjet your family to aggressive paps if you don’t have to?”
Well, he and Ben Affleck have started a production company called Pearl Street Films. They thought it would be best if they were both in the same city at the start of their business venture. Ben Affleck stubbornly refused to move to the East Coast (he wouldn’t leave L.A.) and they’re best friends, whose children hardly know each other. So Matt Damon caved and moved his family to L.A.
It was my impression from what Matt Damon has said, that ‘staying’ in L.A. was ‘conditional’ on whether or not it got too ‘Pap’ crazy and/or just too crazy for his family in general.
wow she is adorable!
Oh hi Matt Damon. Yes you can be the bad boy of my dreams. Why thank you. Ok bye.
Matt and his family visited a farm with Jennifer Garner and her kids on Sunday. Jennifer and kids got photographed, Matt and family didn’t.
Well, Jane, how do you know so much about this? What they did on the weekend?
Because there were lots of photos on social media of Matt with Jen and families at the farm (no Ben).