Hollywood star George Clooney has publicly condemned director Quentin Tarantino for what he describes as "cruel" criticism of fellow actors Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Matthew Lillard. The rebuke marks a significant escalation in a simmering professional disagreement between the two film industry titans.
Clooney's Defence of Fellow Actors
Speaking at the AARP's Movies for Grownups awards over the weekend, Clooney made his position clear. He praised his latest film, Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach, as a project "made by people who love actors." Clooney then turned his attention to the broader culture, stating he has a "great affinity" for actors and pointedly adding, "I don't enjoy watching people be cruel."
He directly linked his comments to Tarantino's recent podcast appearance, saying, "We are living in a time of cruelty; we don’t need to be adding to it." To leave no doubt about his support for the targeted actors, Clooney emphatically declared, "By the way, Paul Dano and Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard – I would be honoured to work with those actors. Honoured."
The Source of the Dispute: Tarantino's Podcast Comments
The controversy stems from an episode of The Bret Easton Ellis podcast in December 2025. While ranking his favourite 21st-century films, Tarantino launched a scathing attack on Paul Dano's performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 classic, There Will Be Blood.
Tarantino labelled Dano the "weakest f***ing actor" in the film, which starred Daniel Day-Lewis, and described him as "such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy." He also named Owen Wilson, star of Wedding Crashers, and Matthew Lillard, known for Scooby-Doo, as actors he "doesn't enjoy watching."
A History of Tension Between Clooney and Tarantino
This is not the first time Clooney has taken issue with Tarantino's public statements. The two previously co-starred in Robert Rodriguez's 1996 vampire film From Dusk Till Dawn.
In August 2024, Clooney revealed he was "a little irritated" after Tarantino questioned his status as a movie star. Clooney recounted an interview where Tarantino was asked to name movie stars and allegedly dismissed Clooney's career post-millennium. "I was like, 'Since the millennium?' That’s kind of my whole f***ing career," Clooney said at the time. "So now I’m like, alright, dude, f*** off. I don’t mind giving him s***. He gave me s***."
Industry Backlash and Support
Tarantino's criticism of Dano prompted a wave of support for the actor from his Hollywood peers in late 2025. Daniel Day-Lewis, Reese Witherspoon, and Ben Stiller were among those who publicly praised Dano.
Matthew Lillard himself addressed the comments at a fan convention, stating they "f***ing suck." He noted the personal impact, saying, "You wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise... it’s humbling, and it hurts." Clooney has a personal connection to Lillard, having starred alongside him in Alexander Payne's 2011 film The Descendants.
The public spat highlights ongoing debates about professionalism and public criticism within the entertainment industry, with Clooney positioning himself firmly against what he perceives as unnecessary public disparagement of colleagues.
