Paul Dano receives support from George Clooney after Quentin Tarantino’s insult

George Clooney has publicly backed Paul Dano following Quentin Tarantino’s recent insults, making it clear that he doesn’t agree with the director’s remarks and has little patience for what he sees as unnecessary cruelty in the industry.

Clooney addressed the issue while accepting the award for best actor Jay Kelly at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards on Saturday, taking the moment to defend Dano as well as Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard.

“By the way, Paul Dano and Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, it would be an honor to work with those actors. My honor,” Clooney said from the stage.

He went on to explain it Jay Kelly was created in an environment rooted in respect for performers, calling it “made by people who love actors – that’s an important part.”

Clooney added that many of the people he’s met throughout his life are actors and that he has a “great affinity” with them.

“I don’t like to see people being cruel,” he said. “We live in an age of cruelty. We don’t need to add that.”

Clooney’s comments come a month after Tarantino sparked backlash in December 2025 with harsh criticism from several actors. The director called Dano “the weakest f**king actor at SAG,” said he “can’t stand” Wilson, and openly fired Lillard.

Tarantino also took aim at Clooney in 2024, claiming the Oscar winner wasn’t a real movie star, despite the two having previously worked together on 1996’s Since. Dusk till dawn.

Clooney has faced this criticism before.

Talking to you GQadmitted that Tarantino’s comments bothered him, recalling how the director dismissed his status during an interview. Even so, 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 to get 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 sign of solidarity, particularly for Paul Dano, at a time when criticism has been loud and kindness, he suggested, matters more than ever.