Lauren Phillips has denied Matt Damon was ‘hassled’ when he made a shock appearance at Derby Day on Saturday.
The Hollywood star and wife Luciana attended the Lexus Marquee as a guest of Lauren and her aviation tycoon fiancé, Paul O’Brien, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
Despite the buzz the pair created at the race day, Lauren said on KIIS FM’s Jase and Lauren on Wednesday punters were very well-behaved.
‘A lot of people came [up] to him. But no, he’s a great sport. He’s happy to chat to anyone that wants to chat to him,’ Lauren said of the Oscar winner.
She explained their group opted to stay in the Lexus Marquee for most of the day.
Lauren Phillips has revealed the truth about Matt Damon being ‘hassled’ at Derby Day, after his shock appearance at Flemington in Melbourne on Saturday. Lauren here at Derby Day alongside Matt’s wife Luciana and Elsa Pataky (left)
‘We didn’t walk around a lot. We got into Lexus marquee, and we pretty much stayed put,’ Lauren added.
The radio star confirmed Matt had no commercial agreement with Lexus, adding organisers had no idea he was her ‘guest’ on the day.
‘They [Matt and his wife] weren’t paid. They just came out. We had a bunch of friends [there],’ she confirmed.
‘They love the horses, and they love Melbourne, so I was excited.’
Lauren explained she gave Matt and Luciana a tour of Melbourne, including restaurant Gimlet, one of the city’s ritziest eateries.
Matt made a surprise appearance at the Lexus marquee at Flemington as a guest of Lauren, with the radio star confirming he had a great time before adding it was ‘unpaid’. Pictured
Lauren also took the pair to karaoke for a night out in the city.
Matt surprised racegoers when he was spotted alongside Lauren, wife Luciana and good friend Elsa Pataky at Flemington on Saturday.
The Bourne Identity star put on an animated display in a tailored suit and sunglasses and was seen laughing and pointing as he got well into the race.
Matt is close friends with Elsa’s husband Chris Hemsworth and frequently visits Australia to spend time at their mega-mansion in Byron Bay.
Lauren mingled with some of the country’s biggest stars at the exclusive marquee, including Pia Whitesell. Both pictured
The actor spent six months living in the country with his family in 2021, when he filmed a role for the latest Thor installment.
‘I’m so excited that my family and I will be able to call Australia home for the next few months,’ Matt said of the relocation at the time.
‘Australian film crews are world renowned for their professionalism and are a joy to work with so the 14 days of quarantine will be well worth it.’
Matt is close friends with Elsa Pataky and her husband Chris Hemsworth and frequently visits Australia to spend time at their mega-mansion in Byron Bay. Pictured: Elsa in June 2023
Despite whispers of a move Down Under, Matt has denied he is leaving the US.
‘Matt has visited Australia several times recently, but he has not bought a house there nor is he moving there,’ a rep said previously.
Matt is married to Luciana Barroso, 47, and the couple share three daughters – Isabella, Gia and Stella.
The Good Will Hunting star is also the stepfather to Luciana’s daughter from her previous marriage, Alexia.
Matt and wife Lucciana stayed in Australia during the pandemic. The pair are regular visitors, with whispers they were looking to buy Down Under. Pictured: December, 2022
