George Clooney Responds to Quentin Tarantino’s Criticism, Stands Up for Paul Dano and Fellow Actors Tarantino Insulted

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On Saturday, George Clooney used his acceptance speech at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards to publicly support actors Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Matthew Lillard.

The Academy Award-winning actor won Best Actor for his performance in Jay Kelly and took the opportunity to respond to recent comments made by director Quentin Tarantino.

You know, I’d be thrilled to work with Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, or Matthew Lillard – seriously, it would be an honor. And honestly, the whole team behind ‘Jay Kelly’ really gets actors. These are people I’ve known and respected for years – a lot of them are actors themselves. I just have a soft spot for them, and I can’t stand seeing anyone treated badly.

George Clooney criticized the overly critical environment in Hollywood, stating, “We’re living in a cruel time, and we shouldn’t be making it worse.”

In December, Quentin Tarantino sparked controversy by publicly sharing negative opinions about actors Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Rory Lillard. He called Dano a weak actor, said he disliked Wilson, and expressed indifference towards Lillard.

George Clooney recently shared that Quentin Tarantino had questioned whether he still qualifies as a movie star, even though they worked together on From Dusk Till Dawn. In an interview with GQ, Clooney said he was bothered by Tarantino’s comments, explaining that Tarantino had publicly listed actors he considered movie stars and then dismissed Clooney as not fitting that description.

In his speech, George Clooney expressed his appreciation for his recent projects. He spoke highly of director Noah Baumbach and the script, saying he felt incredibly fortunate to have been cast in the role. He was also excited to work with Laura Dern again, recalling their previous collaboration on Grizzly II: Revenge. He ended on a hopeful note, stating, “It’s going to be a long, tough couple of years, but we’ll all get through it together.”

George Clooney received his award from Noah Wyle, who was his colleague on the TV show ER. Clooney then jokingly returned the favor when Wyle won Best Actor for The Pitt, suggesting that AARP create a “sexiest man still alive” feature and playfully nominating Wyle as the first choice. He even quipped, “When I grow up, I want to be Noah Wyle.”

The AARP Movies for Grownups Awards honor movies and TV shows that resonate with viewers age 50 and older. This year’s awards show will air on PBS’s Great Performances on February 22nd.

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2026-01-12 17:45