France defends granting citizenship to George and Amal Clooney…
PARIS — Actor George Clooney and his spouse Amal Clooney have been granted French citizenship because “they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France’s international influence and cultural outreach,” the French authorities said Wednesday, defending their naturalization that was questioned by a junior French minister.
The naturalizations of the Kentucky-born star of the “Ocean’s” sequence of heist films, his spouse and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and their twins Ella and Alexander have been announced last weekend in the Journal Officiel, the place French authorities decrees are revealed.
Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed misgivings Wednesday that some of the Clooneys’ new French compatriots might imagine that the star couple was granted particular treatment. The actor speaks only what he himself says is “horrible, horrible” French.
The French authorities defended granting George and Amal Clooney citizenship following claims that the well-known couple was receiving particular treatment. REUTERS
The couple bought an property in France in 2021, with Clooney saying that it’s the household’s major residence. Alberto Pezzali/Invision/AP
“The message being sent is not good,” Vedrenne said in an interview with broadcaster France Info. “There is an issue of fairness that, in my eyes, is absolutely essential.”
The couple bought an property in France in 2021 and Clooney has said that it’s their major residence. Non-French residents of France have a number of doable routes to changing into naturalized.
It wasn’t clear whether or not the 64-year-old actor retained his American citizenship.
His 47-year-old spouse was born in Lebanon and raised in the U.Ok and naturalized by France under her maiden identify, Amal Alamuddin.
The 8-year-old twins have been born in London.
The Foreign Ministry said the Clooneys have been eligible for citizenship under a French regulation that permits for the naturalization of international nationals who contribute to France’s worldwide affect and financial well-being.
It argued that France’s cinema business will profit from the actor’s clout as a global film star and said that as a lawyer, Amal Clooney recurrently works with tutorial establishments and worldwide organizations in France.
“They maintain strong personal, professional and family ties with our country,” the Foreign Ministry said. “We are delighted to welcome Georges and Amal Clooney,” giving the actor’s first identify a French twist with the “s” at the end. Alessandra Tarantino/Invision/AP
“They maintain strong personal, professional and family ties with our country,” the ministry said.
“Like many French citizens, we are delighted to welcome Georges and Amal Clooney into the national community,” it concluded, giving the actor’s first identify a French twist by including the “s” at the end.
The choice was also defended by Vedrenne’s superior at the Interior Ministry, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who said he signed the naturalization decree.
“It’s a big chance for our country,” he said.
In latest media interviews when he was selling “Jay Kelly,” Clooney said that he’s making an attempt to educate himself French utilizing a language-learning app.
He said that his spouse and youngsters converse the language completely.
“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 joked, talking to French broadcaster Canal+.
While selling “Jay Kelly,” Clooney said that he’s making an attempt to educate himself French. Getty Images for Netflix
George Clooney and Adam Sandler converse onstage during Netflix’s Jay Kelly LA Tastemaker Event at San Vicente Bungalows on November 10, 2025, in New York City. Getty Images for Netflix
French media have reported that the Clooneys live part-time of their luxurious 18th-century villa outdoors the city of Brignoles in southern France, the place they will preserve a decrease profile and their youngsters are protected against unauthorized images by French privateness legal guidelines.
In an interview with Esquire in October, Clooney said: “I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood.”
“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,” he said. Growing up away from the highlight in France, “they have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life.”
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