Is Matt Damon a "racist" or just an honest person?

This is a controversial question which surfaced during the pilot episode of HBO's "Project Greenlight," reported the LA Times.

At the heart of the issue was a heated exchange between the "Goodwill Hunting" actor and successful African-American director Effie Brown which centered on racial diversity during the show's season 4 premier.

During the episode, Brown, who is well-known for helming the critically-acclaimed film "Dear White People," reminded "The Talented Mr. Ripley" Star and other producers on the show to be cautious in reviewing the scripts submitted to them, as they contained "delicate elements" that had to be addressed.

The "Bourne Identity" actor responded by saying that the discussion on diversity "was something to be worried about during casting, not during the staffing of the show," the LA Times said.

The Academy Award-winning director-screenwriter added that by changing the rules at the 11^th hour would go against the spirit of the competition.

"Project Greenlight" is a show which seeks to develop up-and-coming filmmakers by giving them the opportunity to direct a fully-funded feature film.

HBO will award a $3 million budget for the chosen film, which will be aired on the cable network. Films that were produced during the earlier seasons of the show only had limited theatrical runs.

During "Project Greenlight's" season premiere, the show's stars, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, along with a team of producers, trimmed down the candidates from a list of 20 to 13 and then to one.

Online responses from those who heard the views expressed by the "Green Zone" star ranged from anger to resignation.

The main concern on the minds of viewers and Hollywood observers was not only the producer-director's seemingly bigoted take on racial diversity but also on his larger role as a "gatekeeper" of the industry.

By brushing aside Brown's comments, he may have inadvertently shut out the voice of equality and reason.

Meanwhile, entertainment site Jezebel also took notice of Matt Damon's "whitesplaining" lecture during the controversial "Project Greenlight" episode.

In particular, the site heavily criticized the "Saving Private Ryan" actor for the insensitive manner in which he handled the "diversity" issue and the manner in which he responded to Effie Brown's observations on the film their panel was critiquing.

"Then he spits the same tired rhetoric about how if they worry too much about hiring diverse filmmakers, they'll undermine the integrity of the entire project," Kara Brown, Jezebel reporter wrote. "The only factor they should be considering is merit, leaving "all other factors out if it."

"Obviously this is correct because we all know the only reason Hollywood is dominated by white men is because white men are the only creative people on Earth who know how to make films real, real good."

At this point, perhaps it would be best for Matt Damon rest easy and take the racist issue with a grain of salt.