Watch: Matt Damon downplays importance of diversity in filmmaking

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Matt Damon confronted African-American filmmaker Effie Brown during a discussion on diversity saying it wasn't needed behind the scenes.

During Sunday night's episode of HBO's Project Greenlight, the seasoned actor cut Brown off while she was emphasizing the need for alternative perspectives regarding a black protagonist in the project's chosen screenplay.

"When we're talking about diversity you do it in the casting of the film not in the casting of the show," Damon asserted.

Shocked, Brown reacted with offended disbelief, letting out "Hoo! Wow. Okay," as The Martian actor's comments settled in the air. Damon and Brown were joined by fellow producers Ben Affleck and the Farrelly brothers to discuss the show's finalists.

"I would urge people to think about -- whoever the director is, how they're going to treat the character of Harmony," Brown initially said. "The only black character who's a hooker who gets hit by her white pimp."

The Dear White People producer pushed for finalists Leo Angelos and Kristen Brancaccio for the rights to direct the film; Damon retorted their directing could "end up giving us something we don't want."

After the discussion aired, social media exploded in disapproval over Damon's comments. Twitter user MrPooni expressed anger toward the clip writing, "Matt Damon speaking over the only black person in the room so he can explain diversity to her is SO WHITE it hurts." The tweet earned more than 5,000 retweets and 4,000 likes since being posted.

Damon's comments come at a time where accurate racial representation in media is at the forefront of social discussion. After teen Michael Brown was killed by a white police officer in 2014, the Black Lives Matter movement took nationwide effect, urging lawmakers and authorities to halt discriminatory practices against people of color.

In February, singer Prince alluded to the movement while introducing the nominees of Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

"Albums still matter," he said. "Like books and black lives, albums still matter."

More recently, leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement released a statement in response to Fox News personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck's question of whether the group should be considered a hate group.

"The Black Lives Matter Network is a love group," leaders said. "We seek a world which ALL black lives matter, and racial hierarchy no longer organizes our lives or yours. This is a vision of love."

Damon was recently announced as one of a list of entertainers, producers and media moguls invited to visit the Pope to discuss the Catholic Church's portrayal in the West. Whether he accepted the invitation or has already met with the Pope is unclear.