George Clooney Calls Out ‘Authoritarians’ and ‘People Who Peddle in Fear’ in Moving Venice Golden Lion Speech: They’re ‘Never the Heroes in History’

During the Venice Film Festival, George Clooney delivered a passionate speech at his Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement ceremony, cautioning against the rise of censorship and authoritarianism. He emphasized the crucial role of stories in combating fear and fascism, noting that those who fear literature, music, and stories are typically not the heroes of history.

Clooney's remarks followed the festival's decision to scrap and then reinstate its press conference, which was prompted by over 200 artists' appeal through the Venice4Palestine initiative to spotlight Palestine and elevate the Palestinian resistance. While discussing his own career, Clooney used his moment to confront the growing threat of authoritarianism, urging the audience not to give in to fear.

He reminded attendees of history's lessons, such as how authoritarians typically target journalists, artists, filmmakers, writers, and actors. Clooney equated movies to Roger Ebert's "empathy machine," highlighting their ability to foster connections between people worldwide. Despite acknowledging that films cannot end wars or solve economic issues, Clooney argued that shared experiences in theaters and empathy for strangers remain vital for humanity's well-being.

He concluded by praising the unique atmosphere of Venice, where individuals from diverse political, religious, and linguistic backgrounds come together—appreciating the common threads of laughter, tears, parental concern, and affection that transcend language barriers.