Hollywood actor Matthew Lillard has candidly addressed the sting of public criticism from acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino, admitting it "f***ing sucks" to be singled out. The 'Five Nights at Freddy's' star spoke out during a fan convention after Tarantino named him among actors he "doesn't care for."
Tarantino's Controversial Podcast Remarks
The controversy stems from an interview Tarantino gave on the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. During the conversation, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Kill Bill' made a series of disparaging comments about several actors. He reserved particularly harsh criticism for Paul Dano, labelling his performance in 'There Will Be Blood' as "weak sauce" and calling him "the weakest f***ing actor" in the Screen Actors Guild.
Tarantino, 62, then expanded his list, stating plainly: "I don't care for him. I don't care for Owen Wilson. I don't care for Matthew Lillard." These remarks, made public earlier this week, quickly circulated online, drawing reactions from fans and industry figures alike.
Lillard's Emotional Fan Convention Response
Matthew Lillard, known for roles in 'Scream', the live-action 'Scooby-Doo' films, and the series 'Good Girls', addressed the comments directly with fans at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio. A TikTok video from the event showed Lillard telling the audience, "Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn't like me as an actor," which prompted immediate boos from the crowd.
While initially brushing it off with "Eh, whatever. Who gives a s***," Lillard then revealed the personal impact. "The point is that it hurts your feelings. It f***ing sucks," he confessed. He pointed out a perceived double standard, adding, "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 reflected on his standing, noting, "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."
Industry Backlash and Support for Dano
Tarantino's comments have not gone unchallenged within the film community. Filmmaker Matt Reeves, who directed Paul Dano as the Riddler in the 2022 hit 'The Batman', swiftly came to the actor's defence. Shortly after the podcast aired, Reeves posted on X, stating simply, "Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person."
The director's critique of Dano's role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'There Will Be Blood' was especially pointed, as Tarantino had ranked the film among the best of the 21st century. He argued the movie "would stand a better chance to be in number one or number two if it didn't have a big giant flaw in it," claiming that flaw was Dano, whom he described as a "weak sister."
The public nature of the criticism and the subsequent responses highlight the rarely-seen personal tensions within the industry, where professional opinions can have a deeply personal effect, even on established stars like Matthew Lillard.
