Matthew Lillard has spoken out after Quentin Tarantino publicly criticised his acting abilities, admitting the remarks were hurtful. The Five Nights at Freddy’s actor addressed the comments during a fan event at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio, where he acknowledged the sting of the director’s words.
“Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn’t like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a s***,” Lillard told the audience, before adding: “Listen, the point is that hurts your feelings. It f***in’ sucks. And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood.”
The actor, known for roles in Scream, Scooby-Doo, and Five Nights at Freddy’s, reflected on his status in the industry. “I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood. Two totally different microcosms, right? And so, you know, it’s humbling, and it hurts,” he said.
Tarantino’s criticism came during a discussion about Paul Dano’s performance in There Will Be Blood, which he described as “a big, giant flaw” in the film. The director also named Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard as actors he does not care for, calling Dano “the weakest f***ing actor in SAG.”
Lillard’s response has drawn support from fans, with many defending his body of work and questioning Tarantino’s own acting abilities. Some have noted that while Tarantino is a celebrated filmmaker, his onscreen performances are often criticised as wooden or lifeless.
