If you’ve spent any time at all watching late-night television over the last twenty years, you’ve seen the "feud." It usually starts with a smirk. Jimmy Kimmel, wrapping up his show, leans into the camera and utters that infamous line: "Our apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time."
The thing is, Matt Damon wasn't even booked that night. He wasn't even in the building. He probably wasn't even in the same time zone.
For two decades, this gag has been the bedrock of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, evolving from a simple one-liner into elaborate, multi-million dollar musical numbers and recurring Oscar bits. But the question that keeps popping up in Google searches—and honestly, at dinner parties—is simple. Are Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon friends in real life? Or is there some dark, Hollywood toxicity bubbling under the surface?
The answer is both simpler and way more wholesome than the "hostility" suggests.
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The Night a Random Joke Changed Everything
Let's go back to 2005. Jimmy Kimmel was in the third season of his show, and frankly, things weren't great. The ratings were shaky. The guests weren't exactly A-list. One night, after a particularly rough taping involving a ventriloquist and a guy in a gorilla suit, Kimmel decided to blow off some steam.
He turned to his producer and, on a total whim, decided to apologize to the biggest star he could think of—someone so famous they would never actually be bumped for a gorilla act. He chose Matt Damon.
"Apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time."
The producer laughed. So, Jimmy did it the next night. And the night after that.
The weirdest part? They didn't even know each other. Damon told SiriusXM’s Jess Cagle that he started getting calls from people asking, "Hey, what’s your deal with this Kimmel guy?" He had to admit he’d never even met the man. He wasn't offended; he was confused. But once he realized the bit was a hit, he didn't call his lawyers. He leaned in.
When the "Feud" Went Nuclear
The first time they actually met was in 2006, specifically to film a segment where Matt finally got on the show, only for Jimmy to cut him off mid-sentence. Damon’s "reaction"—a profanity-laced tirade that looked shockingly real—convinced a lot of people that the beef was legitimate.
Then came 2008. This was the year the joke became a pop-culture phenomenon.
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Sarah Silverman, who was dating Kimmel at the time, appeared on the show to present a "surprise gift." It was a music video titled "I’m F***ing Matt Damon." It featured Damon himself, singing about their secret affair. It was hilarious, high-production, and it won an Emmy.
Kimmel’s response? A star-studded video called "I’m F***ing Ben Affleck," featuring Damon's childhood best friend and half of Hollywood, from Harrison Ford to Brad Pitt. At this point, the "feud" wasn't just a late-night joke; it was a collaborative art form.
The Evidence They’re Actually Best Buds
If you look past the scripted shouting matches, the real-life evidence is overwhelming. These guys aren't just work colleagues; they are genuinely close.
- The Wedding Guest List: In 2013, when Jimmy Kimmel married Molly McNearney (the co-head writer of his show), Matt Damon was right there in the audience. You don't invite your "arch-nemesis" to an intimate wedding in Ojai unless the beef is 100% soy.
- The Vow Renewal: That same year, Matt and his wife Luciana Barroso renewed their vows. Who was the officiant? Jimmy Kimmel. You literally cannot get more "inner circle" than officiating a friend’s wedding.
- Real Support in Hard Times: In 2017, when Jimmy’s son Billy was born with a heart condition, the "feud" stopped. Kimmel later mentioned on air that Damon was one of the first people to reach out, even sending flowers. Jimmy joked, "even that son-of-a-bitch Matt Damon sent flowers," but the sincerity underneath was clear.
- The 2023 WGA Strike: During the Hollywood writers' strike, Kimmel revealed on his Strike Force Five podcast that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon offered to pay his staff's salaries out of their own pockets for two weeks. Jimmy turned them down because it wasn't their responsibility, but he called them "good people."
Why the Bit Still Works in 2026
In an era where celebrity drama is often exhausting and mean-spirited, the Kimmel-Damon saga is a breath of fresh air. It’s a masterclass in "yes-and" comedy. Even as recently as late 2025 and the 2024 Oscars, they’ve kept the tradition alive. At the Oscars, Kimmel used Messi, the dog from Anatomy of a Fall, to "pee" on Matt Damon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
It works because they both play their roles perfectly. Jimmy plays the petty, gatekeeping host, and Matt plays the frustrated, over-eager actor who just wants his five minutes of fame.
Honestly? It's the longest-running "prank" in television history.
What You Should Know
If you're still wondering about the status of their relationship, here is the reality check:
- They are 100% friends. The "hatred" is purely for the cameras.
- It’s collaborative. Every time you see Matt Damon "sneaking" onto the show in a trench coat or a mascot costume, it’s been planned for weeks by both teams.
- It’s about mutual respect. Damon has credited the bit with changing the "course of both our lives," giving them a unique way to stay relevant and entertain fans without the usual boring press junket routines.
So, the next time you see Jimmy "bump" Matt from the schedule, don't feel bad for the Oscar winner. He’s likely in the dressing room, sharing a drink with Jimmy after the show.
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Next Steps for the Superfan
If you want to see the best of this friendship in action, go back and watch the "Couples Therapy" sketches from 2015. They hired a real therapist to help them "work through their issues," and the deadpan delivery from both of them is probably the best acting of Damon's career. You can also track the "Tom Brady" appearances, where Matt frequently uses the NFL legend as a shield to get past Jimmy's security. It’s a rabbit hole of comedy that proves the best friendships are the ones where you can relentlessly make fun of each other in front of millions of people.