George Clooney has publicly thrown his support behind Paul Dano following recent insults made by Quentin Tarantino, making it clear 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 award for Best Actor 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 and Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, I would be honored to work with these actors. Honored,” Clooney said from the stage.
He continued to explain it Jay Kelly was created in an environment rooted in respect for artists, 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 enjoy seeing 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 labeled Dano “the weakest damn actor in SAG,” said he “can’t stand” Wilson and openly dismissed Lillard.
Tarantino had also taken aim at Clooney in 2024, claiming the Oscar winner was not a genuine movie star, despite the two having previously worked together on 1996’s From Dusk Till Dawn.
Clooney has addressed that criticism before.
speaks to GQhe admitted that Tarantino’s comments bothered him, recalling how the director dismissed his status during an interview. Still, Clooney has continued to focus on collaboration and gratitude in his career.
At the AARP ceremony, Clooney expressed appreciation for director Noah Baumbach and praised Jay Kelly script saying, “The script is beautiful. I couldn’t believe my luck that I got to play the part.”
As the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards prepare to air on PBS on Feb. 22, Clooney’s message stood out as a clear show of solidarity, especially for Paul Dano, at a time when criticism has been high and kindness, he suggested, means more than ever.
