George Clooney is getting heat from James Woods and Spencer Pratt over his recent comments on Hollywood.
Newsweek reached out to George and Amal Clooney’s representatives via email for comment on Friday.
Why It Matters
Clooney is one of Hollywood’s most prominent actors, and his family life garners widespread media coverage. He has also been a vocal supporter of Democratic candidates throughout the years. The recent comments he made about raising his children outside of Hollywood appear to have prompted social media responses from fellow celebrities along political lines.
What To Know
In an October 2025 profile with Esquire, Clooney revealed that he and his wife, international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, are raising their 8-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander, on a farm in France. Clooney stated his primary motivation was to give his children a more grounded upbringing, away from the influence of Hollywood and the American paparazzi.
“We’re very lucky,” he told the outlet in an interview published on Monday. “You know, we live on a farm in France. A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for them, it’s like—they’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life.”
The 64-year-old added: “I was worried about raising our kids in L. A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life. France—they kind of don’t give a s*** about fame. I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids.”
Amal Clooney echoed these concerns in public comments too, mentioning that the couple confiscates phones from visitors to maintain their children’s privacy.
“Creating private moments and spaces is becoming increasingly difficult. But that’s also why we entertain a lot at home. I now have a phone basket that I use to take everyone’s phones away!” she told Glamour magazine in July. “It’s important to get that balance where you have time alone with your family and with your friends where people feel like you can have a safe and frank exchange.”
“I would say becoming a parent means you’re more troubled by some of the intrusions,” the 47-year-old continued. “So we do the best we can to minimize any impact on our children. We don’t put our children out there, we’ve never put their photo out there or anything like that.”
What People Are Saying
Several celebrities weighed in on the Clooneys’ comments, using social media to express their reactions.
Videodrome actor James Woods, a supporter of President Donald Trump known for his outspoken views on social media, posted a response on X with over 1.9 million views: “They always leave California to escape the policies they voted for and promoted forever. Then the poor folks who are left have to clean up their mess. They’re like the worst houseguests ever.”
The Hills alum Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Los Angeles wildfires in January and blamed Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, wrote on X with 92,700 views: “yet he had no problem taking $250k from Fire aid while living in France.”
Spencer Pratt is referencing unproven online claims that $250,000 worth of fire aid money was sent to the Clooney Foundation for Justice.
What Happens Next
George Clooney’s new film, Jay Kelly, is set to be released on Netflix in December following a limited theatrical run in November.
