George Clooney recently took a firm stand against Quentin Tarantino's public criticisms of fellow actors Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Matthew Lillard. While accepting his Best Actor award for “Jay Kelly” at AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards, Clooney emphatically declared, “By the way, Paul Dano and Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, I would be honored to work with those actors. Honored.” This statement directly countered Tarantino's remarks from December 2025, where the “Pulp Fiction” director had disparaged Dano as “the weakest fucking actor in SAG,” expressed his inability to “stand” Wilson, and dismissed Lillard.

Clooney further articulated his philosophy during his acceptance speech, emphasizing the importance of working with people who appreciate actors. He described “Jay Kelly” as a film “made by people who love actors,” highlighting his deep “affinity” for them. The esteemed actor also condemned the prevailing atmosphere of “cruelty,” asserting, “We are living in a time of cruelty. We don’t need to be adding to it.” This sentiment reflects a broader call for respect and professionalism within the entertainment industry.

Beyond his defense of Dano, Wilson, and Lillard, Clooney also addressed a past slight from Tarantino himself. In 2024, Tarantino had publicly claimed that Clooney was not a “movie star.” Clooney recounted this incident, stating, “Quentin said some shit about me recently, so I’m a little irritated by him.” He recalled the specific interview where Tarantino named other movie stars but excluded him. Despite this, Clooney reminisced about his early career, calling it a “great time as a young actor,” a perspective he seems to maintain. He humorously acknowledged his AARP award by joking that “the only way I was going to win anything is that Timothée Chalamet is too goddamn young.”

During the awards ceremony, Clooney expressed profound gratitude for his role in “Jay Kelly,” directed by Noah Baumbach. He praised the “beautiful” script and spoke of his immense “luck” in getting to portray the character. He also cherished the opportunity to reunite with Laura Derns, his co-star from his very first movie, “Grizzly II: Revenge,” expressing similar sentiments of good fortune. Concluding his speech with a message of resilience, Clooney remarked, “It’s going to be a long, tough couple of years, but we’ll all get through it together.” The award was presented to him by his former “ER” co-star Noah Wyle. In a light-hearted moment, Clooney reciprocated when Wyle won his own Best Actor award for “The Pitt,” humorously suggesting that AARP should feature a “sexiest man still alive” issue and nominating Wyle as the first candidate. He even quipped, “When I grow up, I want to be Noah Wyle.”

The annual AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, which celebrates entertainment created by and for individuals aged 50 and above, was scheduled to premiere on “Great Performances” on PBS on February 22. This event served as a significant platform for Clooney to voice his convictions about artistic integrity and human kindness amidst public scrutiny and past controversies within Hollywood.