Jimmy Kimmel’s feud with Matt Damon hits the Oscars

WHENEVER Jimmy Kimmel got the chance he roasted actor Matt Damon, and never let up as the Academy Awards continued.

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WHENEVER Jimmy Kimmel got the chance he roasted actor Matt Damon, and never let up as the Academy Awards continued.

Nineteen years after they first graced the Academy Awards stage as fresh-faced Best Original Screenplay winners, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck returned to the 2017 Oscars to hand out the same award.

Young Affleck and Damon clutching their Oscars in 1998 for writing Good Will Hunting. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Their arrival was preceded by a piece in which host Jimmy Kimmel — whose “feud” with Damon has provided him plenty of comic fuel over the years — discussed Damon’s not very successful movie We Bought a Zoo.

“The thing about Matt is you can see how hard he’s working — it’s effortful,” mused Kimmel.

And: “He has almost no discernible talent, but he works.”

Jimmy Kimmel rips Matt Damon with fake 'We Bought a Zoo' tribute: "He has almost no discernible talent." #Oscars pic.twitter.com/HpX8zh8l73

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 27, 2017

The voiceover lady then got in on the act, welcoming the pair to the stage as “Two time Academy Award winner Ben Affleck ... and guest”.

A miffed Damon defended himself: “I actually like that performance in that movie.”

Affleck’s response — “Really?” got plenty of laughs.

The pair began introducing their category, only for the music to rise up every time Damon attempted to speak. Cut to Kimmel under the stage conducting the band.

Affleck and Damon TRYING to present the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Picture: AP

It might have been disrespectful to the nominees — had the Oscar not gone to Kenneth Lonergan for the film Damon produced, Manchester By the Sea.

Affleck’s little brother, Casey, won Best Actor for his role in the movie.

Before the ceremony even began, Kimmel had signalled that Damon was in for a roasting.

Dead man walking the red carpet. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/j2KaUkdHTX

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) February 27, 2017

On the red carpet, Damon said he knew it was “going to be ugly”.

In his opening monologue, Kimmel segued from talk of unity and togetherness straight into Damon — “I would like to bury the hatchet with someone I’ve had issues with,” he said.

“I’ve known Matt so long,” Kimmel said, “when I first met Matt, I was the fat one.”

He also pilloried Damon for passing the lead role in Manchester By the Sea to the younger Affleck.

Matt Damon, left, and Ben Affleck appear backstage at the Oscars. Picture: AP

“He handed what turned out to be an Oscar-calibre role over to his friend and made a Chinese ponytail movie instead,” Kimmel said. “And that movie, The Great Wall, went on to lose $80 million. Smooth move, dumb ass.”

Damon, who has always been in on the “feud” joke with Kimmel, played and laughed along from the opening monologue to the very end.

Showtime! Inside the 2017 Oscars ceremony

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