George Clooney has publicly lent his support to Paul Dano following recent insults made by Quentin Tarantino, making it clear that he disagrees with the filmmaker’s remarks and has little patience for what he sees as unnecessary cruelty in the industry.
Clooney addressed the issue while accepting his Best Actor award for Jay Kelly at AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards on Saturday, using the moment to defend Dano as well as Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard.
“By the way, Paul Dano, Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, I would be honored to work with these actors. Honored,” Clooney said from the stage.
He then explained that Jay Kelly was created in an environment rooted in respect for the performers, calling it “made by people who love actors – that’s an important part.”
Clooney added that many of the people he has known throughout his life are actors and that he has “a great affinity” for them.
“I don’t like to see people being cruel,” he said. “We live in a time of cruelty. We don’t need to add to it.”
Clooney’s comments come a month after Tarantino sparked backlash in December 2025 with harsh criticism of several actors. The director called Dano the “weakest fucking actor in SAG,” said he “can’t stand” Wilson, and openly fired Lillard.
Tarantino had also taken aim at Clooney in 2024, saying the Oscar winner was not a real movie star, although the two had previously worked together on From (1996). From dusk to dawn.
Clooney has already responded to this criticism.
Talk to GQhe admitted that Tarantino’s comments bothered him, recalling how the director dismissed his status during an interview. Despite this, Clooney has continued to focus on collaboration and gratitude during his career.
At the AARP ceremony, Clooney expressed his gratitude to director Noah Baumbach and praised the Jay Kelly script, saying: “The script is magnificent. I couldn’t believe my luck to be able to play the role.”
As the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards prepare to air on PBS on February 22, Clooney’s message stood out as a clear show of solidarity, particularly with Paul Dano, at a time when criticism has been harsh and kindness, as he suggested, matters more than ever.
