Clooney Family Secures French Citizenship Amid Government Backlash

French authorities have granted citizenship to actor George Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney, and their children through a special pathway after Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot directly requested the move in October 2025. The decision was finalized on December 26 via the rarely applied “citoyen émérite” route, which bypasses standard naturalization requirements including minimum residency periods, language exams, and integration assessments.

According to an official government document reviewed by Politico, Barrot proposed granting French nationality to the Clooney family in a letter sent to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The document noted that the couple maintains “permanent residence” in southern France where their children attend local schools and emphasizes their enduring personal and professional ties with the country. Barrot also highlighted the family’s philanthropic work through the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which provides free legal aid globally to protect free speech and women’s rights across 40+ countries.

The move has drawn criticism from within France’s government. Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister attached to the interior ministry, expressed embarrassment over the decision, stating it “sends the wrong message” and vowed to investigate how the procedure was applied in this case.

The “citoyen émérite” pathway is historically reserved for figures who significantly contribute to France’s international economic relations and cultural influence. Past recipients include Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel and Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov. Clooney, a longtime advocate for human rights, previously described his family’s decision to live in rural France as a deliberate choice to shield their children from Hollywood pressures—a contrast he emphasized in an October 20 interview with Esquire, noting the difference between his childhood farm life and his current “dinner with grown-ups” routine.