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- George Clooney says his kids have a ‘much better life’ living in France than in LA (businessinsider.com)
George Clooney Prioritizes Privacy, French Farm Life for Children Over Hollywood Culture
Veteran actor George Clooney has opened up about his deliberate decision to raise his six-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, on a quiet farm in France, expressing significant reservations about the influence of Hollywood’s culture and media spotlight on their upbringing in Los Angeles.
In a recent interview, Clooney, 64, highlighted the distinct advantages of their life abroad. “We live on a farm in France,” he stated, noting parallels to his own childhood.
“They’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in.
They have a much better life.”
The Oscar-winning actor conveyed his “worries” about raising his children in the pervasive “culture of Hollywood,” fearing they would “never get a fair shake at life.” A primary concern for Clooney is shielding his children from the constant presence of paparazzi and the pressures of being compared to other famous offspring. He noted that in France, people are largely indifferent to celebrity, fostering an environment where his children can experience a more normal existence.
Clooney and his wife, human-rights attorney Amal Clooney, welcomed their twins in 2017. The couple is well-known for their staunch efforts to protect their children’s privacy.
Clooney previously penned an open letter to media outlets, urging them to refrain from publishing photos of his kids, citing the sensitive and often dangerous nature of Amal’s work, which involves confronting and prosecuting terrorist groups. Amal Clooney has also implemented a no-phone rule for houseguests at their home, emphasizing in-person connection while safeguarding their children’s space.
Reflecting on his own journey, Clooney drew a parallel between his current farm residence and his upbringing in Kentucky. Despite once seeking to escape farm life, he now embraces it, finding that driving a tractor and engaging in similar activities offers “the best chance of a normal life” for his family. He even light-heartedly touched upon the age difference with his children, joking that by the time his son achieves anything notable, he’ll be too old to draw comparisons.
The Clooneys are not alone in their pursuit of a more private family life away from the entertainment industry’s hub. Other notable figures, including Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, have relocated their families from Los Angeles to places like Tennessee and Montana to protect their children from intense media scrutiny. Similarly, Lindsay Lohan has cited reduced worries as a mother living in Dubai compared to New York and Los Angeles, having moved there in 2014 to step away from the Hollywood spotlight.
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- George Clooney says his kids have a ‘much better life’ living in France than in LA (businessinsider.com)