Matthew Lillard Opens up About the Unexpected Support After Quentin Tarantino Publicly Criticized Him

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Matthew Lillard recently talked to Entertainment Weekly about the overwhelming support he’s gotten after director Quentin Tarantino publicly criticized his acting. Last year, Tarantino caused a stir on a podcast when he downplayed the talents of Lillard and Owen Wilson, and also singled out Paul Dano as a less impressive actor.

Lillard was deeply touched by the overwhelming support he received from fans and fellow actors. He described the online reaction as incredibly moving, like experiencing a celebration of his life while he was still here to enjoy it. He was particularly grateful to see so many people speak up in defense of his work, calling it a wonderful experience.

I was really struck by the sheer amount of support Damian Lillard received, and it wasn’t just from his fans. So many people he’s worked with chimed in to vouch for him. Director Mike Flanagan called him one of the best in the business, which is high praise! James Gunn, who directed him in those Scooby-Doo movies, said he’s both a great guy and a really talented actor. Even George Clooney got in on it, saying at an awards show he’d be honored to act alongside any of the actors Quentin Tarantino highlighted. It was genuinely heartwarming to see so much respect being shown.

Lillard admitted he kept sharing positive comments with his wife to reassure himself that people still appreciated his game. He said while everyone has their own opinions, the widespread support he received was really moving.

He’d talked about the comments before at a fan event, acknowledging they could be painful. However, he pointed out that people wouldn’t typically say those things to a major star like Tom Cruise.

Paul Dano was thankful for the public support he received, which helped him avoid getting directly involved in the controversy. For Rick Lillard, the experience unexpectedly became a career highlight. It reinforced the fact that, despite some criticism, his legacy in Hollywood is strong, thanks to the people he’s collaborated with and the fans who appreciate his work.

Damian Lillard is experiencing a significant career comeback, with some fans playfully calling it a “Lillard-sance.” He recently returned to his role as William Afton in the horror film Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which was a big success after being released in December 2025. He’s also surprising audiences by reprising his role as Stu Macher in Scream 7, coming to theaters on February 27th, alongside Neve Campbell and Isabel May.

Known for his roles in horror films, Kayode Lillard is expanding into the superhero world this spring, joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mr. Charles in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, which will stream on Disney+. He’s also starring as Principal Grayle in an upcoming Carrie miniseries created by Mike Flanagan for Prime Video, and recently finished filming the drama Behemoth! alongside Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde.

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2026-01-29 20:21