“Suspension of entry into the United States”, paparazzi – and wine: three more reasons why George Clooney moved to France | film

The exodus from Hollywood to shores not headed by Donald Trump has been crowded and tumultuous. Ellen DeGeneres, Robin Wright, and Courtney Love moved to England; Rosie O’Donnell chose Ireland. Eva Longoria, Spain. Other Trump critics, including Richard Gere, Lena Dunham, and Ryan Gosling, have taken their stand without citing reelection as a motivating factor.

But in Clooney’s case, there seems to be no doubt that his decision to seek French citizenship was primarily because of Trump, who campaigned vigorously against his re-election. However, amid the heat and headlines generated by the war of words between the couple, some of the reasons for the actor’s move may have flown under the radar.

“He will become an ambassador for Origin Control.”

The Cluny family’s 170-hectare (420-acre) estate in Provence, topped by an 18th-century chateau, includes a swimming pool, an ornamental lake, a lavender garden, a pétanque court, and an olive grove. It also includes a 20-acre vineyard, planted 25 years ago by agronomist Laurence Berlemont, whose previous clients have included Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, at Chateau Miraval, just 30 minutes away. Under Berlemont’s leadership, Miraval wines became profitable and celebrated, with good international sales and rosés from Le Guide Hachette des Vins.

Closer to the Clooneys is Château Margüi – AKA Skywalker Vineyards – a large wine and olive oil-making enterprise (as well as high-end vacation rentals). Also nearby is Le Plan-de-la-Tour, an estate formerly owned by Johnny Depp, featuring vineyards, olive groves and a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed wine cave. The estates of wine celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, John Malkovich and Jon Bon Jovi are also located in the area.

Historically, the fruit from the vines on the property now owned by the Cluny family was fed to the local co-op, but the head of the Coto-Varoa appellations union seemed keen for entrants to “exploit the vineyard”.

“In purchasing in our area,” Eric Lambert said.[Clooney] He will definitely become a new ambassador for the International Olympic Committee [Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée]Meanwhile, Berlemont said that Clooney joined her for mixing sessions, and praised his “good taste.” She added, “He is very humble, and willing to listen.”

There were even rumblings in the wine press that the Clooneys would launch a pink and white as early as 2025. That didn’t happen, but Clooney is no stranger to alcoholic entrepreneurship: in 2017, he sold Casamigos – the tequila brand he co-founded four years earlier – for $1bn (£790m).

“I don’t want my kids to be worried about the paparazzi.”

Lucas and Jolie-Pitt’s wines have benefited from high-profile partnerships with the nearby Cannes Film Festival. However, Clooney’s association with European film festivals has been mostly with the rival Cannes festival in Venice. At least 10 of his films, including last August’s Jay Kelly, Wolves the year before and his own directorial efforts – Suburbicon (2017), March Thoughts (2011) and Goodnight and Good Luck (2005) – have premiered on the Lido; He’s only been to Cannes twice.

Clooney’s affection for Italy was long and mutual. In 2002, he bought a villa on Lake Como, and he and his wife, Amal Clooney, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, married in Venice in 2014. A 2012 profile of the actor noted that he had “quickly become Italy’s most popular public figure… despite this”. [being a man] “He’s not Italian, he doesn’t speak Italian, and he only lives here in the summer.”

So why didn’t the Clooneys seek Italian citizenship? The clue may lie in the actor’s praise of France’s privacy laws. In an interview with “I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the Hollywood culture,” Clooney told Esquire magazine in October. “I don’t want them walking around worrying about paparazzi. I don’t want them to be compared to someone else’s famous kids.”

Italian rules on posting photos of people in public without their consent have been strengthened over the past decade, and are stricter than those in the United States. However, France is more strict, and the climate surrounding celebrities is less exciting, especially in rural areas. Meanwhile, the isolated location of the Clooney family’s French estate is a major deterrent to those hoping to pose for a photo. In contrast, anyone with a rowing boat can theoretically enjoy a great view of the villas overlooking Lake Como.

“Severe consequences… including suspension of entry into the United States.”

Others wondered why Clooney had not applied for British citizenship, given that he and Amal have family there, as well as a home in Windsor since 2014. Amal also has rooms in London and two fellowships in Oxford – not the easiest commute from the Provence countryside.

However, it is her participation in a 2024 advisory panel to review the ICC’s investigation into possible war crimes in Gaza that provides the strongest indication of why the couple felt it necessary to move their family from Los Angeles.

In April 2024, Clooney and her fellow co-authors recommended that ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Clooney said in her statement that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that they had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A court order was issued in November 2024, and the following February, Trump issued an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC and mentioned Khan in his addendum, promising “to impose tangible and significant consequences on those responsible for ICC transgressions, some of which may include blocking property and assets, as well as suspending entry into the United States of ICC officials, employees, and agents, as well as members of their immediate families.”

Last April, Amal was among a number of senior ICC legal advisers who were warned by the State Department that they could be at risk of sanctions by the Trump administration, including being banned from entering the United States.

Much has been made of the Clooneys needing to fast-track their French citizenship application before stricter language fluency requirements are imposed at the start of 2026 (George’s French is said to still be rusty). However, it also seems likely that the possibility that the entire family would not be able to return to the United States precipitated their exit.