Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney, at 64, has been sidelined by a pesky sinus infection, forcing him to skip key events at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.
Here’s the quick rundown: Clooney, in town for the 82nd Venice International Film Festival to promote his latest film "Jay Kelly," directed by Noah Baumbach, had to bow out of a press junket, a swanky dinner with co-stars Adam Sandler and Laura Dern, and even the official press conference for the Netflix release due to doctor’s orders, Fox News reported.
The star rolled into Venice on Tuesday with his wife, Amal Clooney, looking every bit the power couple in their coordinated Italian Riviera-inspired outfits.
Amal stunned in a light-yellow dress with a halter top, accented by a gold belt and earrings, while George sported a sharp black polo, beige slim-fit pants, brown suede loafers, and sunglasses, proudly showing off his natural gray hair.
That gray, by the way, is a fresh look after years of dyeing it dark for roles like in Broadway’s "Good Night, and Good Luck"—a reminder that even Tinseltown’s finest can’t escape time’s march.
By Wednesday afternoon, though, the glamour took a hit as Clooney was spotted boarding a water taxi around 4 p.m. local time, leaving the Hotel Excelsior to rest up.
His representative confirmed the culprit to Fox News Digital, stating, “George has been diagnosed with a sinus infection.”
Doctor’s orders were clear: cut back on activities, which meant Thursday became a no-show day for the actor as well.
Missing the press junket and a high-profile dinner with A-listers was bad enough, but skipping the official press conference for "Jay Kelly" underscored just how much this bug knocked him down.
The press conference moderator noted, “George Clooney is not going to be here because he has a bad sinus infection.” Well, that’s a polite way to say the star’s absence left a gaping hole in the room, though we’re told there’s hope he might still grace the red carpet later.
Director Noah Baumbach chimed in with a shrug, “Even movie stars get sick.” Fair point, but in an era where Hollywood often peddles invincibility alongside progressive talking points, it’s almost refreshing to see a reminder of basic human frailty.
Clooney himself has poked fun at aging, once joking on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" about his gray hair, saying, “It’s bad.” Yet, there’s a quiet dignity in embracing the natural look, a subtle pushback against the vanity-obsessed culture that often dominates the left-leaning entertainment sphere.
Venice holds special meaning for Clooney beyond just film festivals; it’s where he married Amal in 2014, just five months after proposing, and where they later welcomed twins, Alexander and Ella, in 2017.
That personal tie makes his forced absence this week sting a bit more, though it’s hard to fault a man for prioritizing health over Hollywood hoopla—something even the most anti-woke among us can respect in an industry often criticized for shallow excess.
