Matt Damon was discredited in 2021 when he appeared in an advertisement from Crypto.com, a major crypto exchange. He uttered the now-familiar words “Fortune favors the brave” in the ad. Opinions were divided and many fans were not pleased with the actor’s performance.
Matt Damon speaks out about Crypto.com ad
In a interview with Associated Press on March 27, during the premiere of his new film, Matt Damon spoke out about the ad for the first time. He seemed slightly embarrassed when explaining why he appeared in the ad, but does come up with a clear explanation.
“We had a bad year with Water.org, and I did that commercial in an effort to raise money for Water.org.”
Water.org is a project that aims to increase access to clean water worldwide. Damon founded it in 2009 with philanthropist Gary White, who serves as the project’s CEO. Water.org hopes to fulfill their mission by providing small loans to finance the purchase and installation of water taps and toilets.
‘Not the first time’
Damon explained that he had previously given his entire salary to Water.org because it was in dire financial straits. The actor went on to say, “Crypto.com heard about that and decided to give $1 million to Water.org just on their own.” He adds:
“I certainly have a lot of gratitude for them, and for what they did for our foundation.”
The ad aired in October 2021 and Damon starred in a metaverse-esque world featuring historical figures such as the Wright brothers and Sir Edmund Hillary. It appeared worldwide on billboards, on television and on YouTube.
After a terrible year for crypto in 2022, the ad received a lot of criticism, and Damon has since been the center of many memes jokes, for example in the South Park and in Stephen Colbert’s late night show.
