Celebrity News

George Clooney Used Hollywood Status to ‘Fast-Track’ French Citizenship, Privacy Expert Claims

Doug Montero

Published

on

Getty Images

George Clooney’s French citizenship was fast-tracked by top government officials, leading critics to allege the Hollywood hunk got special treatment.

France’s foreign affairs ministry granted citizenship to the Ocean’s Eleven star, 64, his human-rights attorney wife, Amal, 47, and their twins, Ella and Alexander, 8, on Dec. 26, per Politico.

Their applications were processed via the so-called “citoyen émérite” program for French-speaking foreigners who contribute to the country’s international influence and economic success.

But many blasted the speeded-up process, saying it was unfair to other hard-working immigrants who must endure a complicated process that involves first applying for residency, then learning the nation’s history and becoming fluent in the language before becoming citizens.

Getty Images

The country’s junior interior minister, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, said granting the Clooneys a special citizenship, despite his poor French, suggested a “double standard,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Oscar winner admits he speaks “horrible, horrible” French.

“The message being sent is not good,” Vedrenne adds. “There is an issue of fairness that, in my eyes, is absolutely essential.”

According to privacy expert Frank Ahearn, author of the bestselling fugitive guidebook How to Disappear, Clooney used his Hollywood status to cut to the front of the line.

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

“I think the situation with George Clooney is appalling — it’s just another rich person paying for something,” says Ahearn, who lives in France. “When you have the money, it’s easy to fast-track citizenship, but for the average person you have to jump through a lot of hoops.

“A person working a 9-to-5 job, sweating to pay a lawyer to help them out and going through the different channels and having a heavy-duty background check wouldn’t be able to have a French government minister rubber-stamp their citizenship application.”

The couple does own property in the country — they purchased an 18th-century villa in the town of Brignoles in Provence, about 70 miles west of Monaco, in 2021, which the Jay Kelly star claims is the family’s primary residence.

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Ahearn believes Clooney sought French citizenship to protect himself and his wife, who have been targeted by President Donald Trump for their liberal politics.

“The best protection is having a second citizenship,” Ahearn notes. “That’s why you have all these countries offering citizenship to wealthy people.”

As the National Enquirer previously reported, Trump signed an executive order seeking sanctions against Amal Clooney, who helped craft the International Criminal Court war crimes warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for obliterating the Gaza Strip.

Trending News

Politics1 week ago

President Trump Unleashes on Reporter Who Questions His Involvement With Younger Aide Natalie Harp

News2 weeks ago

American Airlines Doubles Down on Banning Woman With Down Syndrome From Flying Alone

Health2 weeks ago

Meghan McCain Wants Anthony Fauci in ‘Jail’ as Texts Show He Theorized COVID Shot May Cause Miscarriage

GoFundMe for Joe Belgio GoFundMe for Joe Belgio
News2 weeks ago

Marine Veteran Left With Permanent Brain Damage After Eating Oysters at Chicago Steakhouse

Exclusive2 weeks ago

Angelina Jolie’s Brother James Haven Wants Her to ‘Support’ Him After He Came Out as Gay

@ĐọcVịThếGiới-369/Youtube @ĐọcVịThếGiới-369/Youtube
Influencer2 weeks ago

Ghost Hunter Dies One Year After Smashing ‘Goddess of Mercy’ Statue to See If ‘Curse’ Would Follow

Viral2 weeks ago

Charitable Influencer Banned from Walmart Asks Followers Not to Boycott The Store: ‘I Respect Them’

Exclusive7 days ago

Tom Cruise Wants to ‘Sit Down’ With Ex-Wife Nicole Kidman ‘Face to Face’ and ‘Hash Things Out’

Travel2 weeks ago

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport’s $300K Bathroom Project Includes Islamic Foot-Washing Stations

Exclusive2 weeks ago

Matt Damon Reached Out to Ex Minnie Driver After Her ‘Horrible’ Car Accident: ‘It Was Very Touching’

Viral1 week ago

National Park Service Seeks Woman Who Got Bat Caught in Hair After Animal Tests Positive for Rabies

News1 week ago

CEO Laid Off 900 Employees Via Zoom Before Being Fired Himself