The French government has robustly defended its controversial decision to grant citizenship to Hollywood icon George Clooney and his wife, the renowned human rights barrister Amal Clooney. Officials stated the couple were naturalised because they contribute to France's global influence, a move that has sparked a domestic debate about fairness and privilege.
The Official Justification and Internal Dissent
Announced in the official Journal Officiel last weekend, the naturalisation also includes the couple's eight-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander. The Foreign Ministry argued the Clooneys were eligible under a law allowing the fast-tracking of foreigners who enhance France's international standing and economic well-being. The ministry emphasised the couple's "strong personal, professional and family ties" to France, noting George Clooney's global star power benefits French cinema and Amal Clooney's legal work with French institutions.
However, the decision has not been without internal criticism. Junior interior minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne voiced concerns on Wednesday, suggesting the public might perceive special treatment. This sentiment was amplified by the actor's own admission that his French language skills are "horrible". "The message being sent is not good. There is an issue of fairness that, in my eyes, is absolutely essential," Vedrenne told France Info.
A French Home and a Life Away from the Spotlight
The Clooneys purchased a primary residence in France in 2021, an 18th-century villa near Brignoles in Provence. In interviews, George Clooney, 64, has expressed a desire to raise his family away from the intense media scrutiny of Hollywood and London. He told Esquire in October that in France, his children "have a much better life", protected by strict privacy laws from paparazzi.
While it is unclear if George Clooney retains his American citizenship, his wife, 47, was naturalised under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin. She was born in Lebanon and raised in the UK. The twins were born in London. The Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, who signed the decree, overruled his junior minister's concerns, calling the Clooneys' naturalisation "a big chance for our country".
The Language Barrier and a Warm Welcome
Despite the controversy, the government extended a formal welcome, even Gallicising the actor's name to "Georges" in its statement. Clooney has joked about his linguistic struggles, revealing he uses an app to learn French while his wife and children speak it fluently. "They speak French in front of me so that they can say terrible things about me to my face and I don’t know," he quipped to Canal+.
The debate underscores the tension between France's desire to attract global talent and the principle of égalité. While the state celebrates the Clooneys' contribution to French prestige, the discussion initiated by Vedrenne highlights a persistent public sensitivity around perceived preferential treatment for the world's elite.
