Matt Damon talks Ben Affleck gay rumors, sexuality -- and reveals the secret behind his ponytail

Matt Damon found himself in more hot water this weekend when his take on rumors that he and Ben Affleck were gay turned into a discussion of gay actors in Hollywood.

Also, about that ponytail he was sporting over the summer: It wasn’t real. But we’ll get to that in a bit.

The revelations came as the Oscar-winning star makes the rounds for his turn in Ridley Scott’s stranded-in-space flick, “The Martian,� which is due in theaters Friday. (Read The Times’ Damon profile here.)

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In another Sunday profile, this one in the Guardian, the 44-year-old expounded on a tidbit of gossip that’s been swirling around him and his “Good Will Hunting� writing partner since they first rose to fame, around the time they won an Academy Award for the 1997 film.

“When Ben and I first came on the scene, there were rumors that we were gay because it was two guys who wrote a script together,� he said. “I know. It’s just like any piece of gossip … and it put us in a weird position of having to answer, you know what I mean? Which was then really deeply offensive. I don’t want to, like, [imply] it’s some sort of disease — then it’s like I’m throwing my friends under the bus.�

That revelation was made while Damon, who has four kids with wife Luciana Barroso, said he believes openly gay actors have a more difficult time in Hollywood.

“At the time [of the Affleck rumors], I remember thinking and saying, Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy — more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor — it’s tough to make the argument that he didn’t take a hit for being out.�

Though he believes attitudes are changing, he champions same-sex marriage and he played Liberace’s gay lover in HBO’s 2013 film “Behind the Candelabra,� the actor took some heat for his next quote, which several outlets interpreted as him saying that gay actors should not come out.

“I think it must be really hard for actors to be out publicly,� he said. “But in terms of actors, I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you, period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.�

Incidentally, this isn’t the first time Damon has come under fire this month. The gay remarks came soon after he was criticized for “Damonsplaining� diversity in an episode of HBO’s “Project Greenlight.� The actor has since apologized for saying that “when we’re talking about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not in the casting of the show.�

Also over the weekend, the actor demystified the hair-raising hubbub that his brief ponytail created over the summer.

“It was hair extensions,� the actor said on “The Graham Norton Show� on Saturday, explaining that he had it for five months while filming “The Great Wall� in Beijing and publicly debuted it at a wrap-up news conference.

The actor said that the flowing man-pony was comprised of extensions affixed to his mane by a British stylist who’d been flown out to Beijing for the day of work.

“And then I had to manage that hair,� Damon continued. “I now have a whole new appreciation for my wife and daughter. It’s very hard to do.�

Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.

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