LOS ANGELES — George Clooney has addressed long-running rumors about his sexuality, claiming that he does not “give a s**t” if people think he is gay.
The 50-year-old “Descendants” star has dated a string of beautiful women but has been dogged by claims that he is hiding his true sexuality. However, the Hollywood heartthrob told gay news magazine The Advocate that he found the gossip amusing.
“I think it’s funny, but the last thing you’ll ever see me do is jump up and down saying ‘These are lies!’ That would be unfair and unkind to my good friends in the gay community,” Clooney said.
A vocal supporter of gay marriage, the star admitted the public would likely speculate on his true sexuality long after he was dead.
“I’m not going to let anyone make it seem like being gay is a bad thing,” he added. “My private life is private, and I’m very happy in it. Who does it hurt if someone thinks I’m gay? I’ll be long dead and there will still be people who say I was gay. I don’t give a s**t.”
Clooney was once married to actress Talia Balsam but the couple divorced in 1993. He has had high-profile relationships with several women, including Italian model Elisabetta Canalis and British TV presenter Lisa Snowdon.
He is currently dating actress and former WWE wrestler Stacy Keibler, who he escorted to the Oscars last month.
Brad Pitt jokingly implied that Clooney was gay when he said that he would not marry Angelina Jolie until Clooney could legally marry his partner.
Clooney told The Advocate that Pitt was “being funny about it because he knows that the best and most effective way to end marriage inequality is to point out the ridiculousness of it.”