In a surprising turn during Jimmy Kimmel Live’s final episode filmed in New York, actor Matt Damon made an unexpected appearance, reigniting the famous Matt Damon Jimmy Kimmel feud. Damon appeared disguised as Frankie Focus, a green, bespectacled mascot linked to New York’s school cellphone ban, catching both the host and audience off guard at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House.
Using a cartoonish voice, initially performed by another actor, Damon engaged Kimmel in a conversation that quickly shifted from seemingly innocent to sharp-tongued, capturing the tension of their long-standing rivalry.
Disguised Damon Confronts Kimmel With Sarcasm and Jabs
The costumed character Frankie Focus began with a pointed question, challenging Kimmel about his education.
“Did you get a college degree?”
the mascot asked.
“Why did you ask me that? No, I didn’t get one,”
Kimmel responded.
Frankie replied scornfully,
“Well I could tell from watching your stupid monologue!”
and called out to the audience, asking, “Isn’t he dumb?” The hostile tone escalated until Kimmel abruptly removed the mascot’s head, revealing Damon beneath, which triggered loud applause from the crowd.
Damon then proudly acknowledged his sneaky entrance, setting the stage for further banter with Kimmel who mocked the costume.
“Is this a sex thing? Are you a furry? You’re a furry! Dunkin’ Dumbass is a furry, everybody! He’s a furry,”
Kimmel jeered.
Damon denied being a furry but admitted the outfit was necessary to gain access to the show, highlighting the lengths he was willing to go to confront Kimmel directly.
Actors Acknowledge Past Conflicts During Heated Exchange
Damon addressed their years of public sparring by saying,
“I know we’ve had our differences over the years, but I wanted to be here tonight for your last show ever. I mean, hey guys, we’ve been at this for a long time together — I mean, almost together — for like 23 years. I just wanna say goodbye.”
Kimmel immediately corrected him, clarifying,
“This isn’t my last show ever. We have a show Monday.”
This confused Damon, who responded,
“But the president canceled you — which I was a big fan of, by the way,”
referring to Donald Trump’s false claims that Kimmel’s show had been canceled, which followed Kimmel’s temporary suspension after FCC appointee Brendan Carr encouraged some ABC affiliates to preempt the show.
Damon continued quoting Trump,
“When he said you had zero ratings and no talent, I was like, ‘I’ve been saying that for years.’”
Kimmel reminded Damon,
“We didn’t get canceled. We were off the air for three nights.”
Disappointed, Damon asked if there was a process to appeal such actions, to which Kimmel responded negatively.
Feud Escalates With Personal Insults and Audience Interaction
As their sharp exchange intensified, Damon swore, prompting Kimmel to sarcastically ask,
“You kiss your mother with that mouth?”
Damon retorted,
“No, I kiss your mother with this mouth,”
before loudly greeting Kimmel’s mother Joan, who was present among the audience members:
“What’s up, Joan? What’s up? Hey, girl!”
Before leaving the stage, Damon playfully coaxed Joan to follow him offstage, saying,
“Come on, Joan, come on. Let’s let your wittle boy do his wittle show,”
and revealed one final twist about his costume choice, admitting,
“I was lying about the costume. It is a sex thing.”
The Origins and Legacy of the Kimmel-Damon Rivalry
The origin of the Kimmel-Damon feud dates back to 2005, when Jimmy Kimmel ended an episode by apologizing to Matt Damon because the show had run out of time, despite Damon never having been scheduled to appear and the two never having met at that point. Since then, their on- and off-screen exchanges have become a beloved running gag, often involving other celebrities such as Ben Affleck, Sarah Silverman, and Tom Brady, turning their rivalry into a long-standing comedic saga.
What This Encounter Means for Their Relationship Going Forward
Matt Damon’s surprise intrusion shows that the playful but tense Matt Damon Jimmy Kimmel feud remains alive after nearly two and a half decades. Their back-and-forth continues to captivate audiences, blending humor with sharp-edged barbs that suggest unresolved tensions beneath the surface. The stunt also underscores how the duo’s rivalry has become part of the entertainment landscape itself, ensuring fans eagerly await the next chapter of their interactions.
