Archive · 3 Sep 2026
George Clooney Wins Golden Lion, Questions Paramount-Warner Bros Merger
George Clooney received a major award for his lifetime of acting and filmmaking.
He accepted it at the Venice Film Festival.
In his speech, he said art and stories can help people understand and care about other people.
He warned that people who use fear may try to silence journalists and artists.
Clooney supported actor Mark Ruffalo’s right to express his opinions, even when others strongly disagree.
Paramount had accused Ruffalo of using antisemitic tropes while criticizing its proposed merger with Warner Bros.
Clooney said he was unsure whether the merger made financial sense.
He worried that combining large companies could cause many people to lose their jobs.
He also said artificial intelligence would become a major part of entertainment and could seriously affect performers.
George Clooney received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival’s opening ceremony.
In his speech, Clooney defended art, empathy, journalism and free expression against fear and authoritarianism.
Clooney backed Mark Ruffalo’s right to speak freely after Paramount accused him of using antisemitic tropes.
He questioned whether Paramount’s proposed Warner Bros merger made financial sense and warned consolidation could cost jobs.
Clooney predicted artificial intelligence would become important in entertainment while raising concerns about its consequences for performers.
- Who
- Actor George Clooney, with Mark Ruffalo, Paramount, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros involved in the discussion.
- What
- Clooney accepted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, defended free speech and criticized the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros merger.
- When
- Wednesday, September 3, at the Venice Film Festival’s opening events.
- Where
- The Venice Film Festival in Venice; the report was datelined Los Angeles, United States.
- Why
- Clooney used his award speech to discuss art, journalism and free expression, and addressed the Ruffalo controversy, the merger, artificial intelligence and US politics.
Clooney and Ruffalo’s Free-Speech View
Paramount’s Criticism and Merger Plans
Mark Ruffalo’s comments
Clooney and Ruffalo’s Free-Speech View
Clooney said Ruffalo should be able to speak freely, even when people disagree with him, and argued that speech should not be banned.
Paramount’s Criticism and Merger Plans
Paramount accused Ruffalo of using antisemitic tropes after he criticized its proposed merger and accused the Ellison family of complicity in genocide against Palestinians.
Paramount-Warner Bros merger
Clooney and Ruffalo’s Free-Speech View
Clooney said he did not understand how the merger made financial sense and warned that one large company swallowing another could lead to significant job losses.
Paramount’s Criticism and Merger Plans
Paramount is pursuing the proposed merger with Warner Bros, but the articles do not provide the company’s stated financial rationale.
- Award
- Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement
- Recipient
- George Clooney
- Festival
- Venice Film Festival
- Free-speech dispute
- Clooney defended Mark Ruffalo after Paramount accused him of using antisemitic tropes.
- Proposed merger
- Paramount is pursuing a merger with Warner Bros.
- Clooney’s merger concern
- He questioned the deal’s financial logic and warned that consolidation could cause job losses.
- Other concerns
- Clooney discussed artificial intelligence in entertainment, journalism, media ownership and the US political climate.
