Matthew Lillard recently shared his feelings about Quentin Tarantino’s critical comments regarding him and fellow actors Paul Dano and Owen Wilson. In an interview with People magazine, Lillard expressed his desire to work with the renowned director, stating that it “sucked” to face such a public critique. He characterized Tarantino as “a lovely filmmaker” but found the harsher remarks disappointing.
The backlash originated from a viral appearance by Tarantino on “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” last fall, where he called Dano “the weakest fucking actor in SAG” and expressed his disinterest in Lillard and Wilson. Lillard reflected on the aftermath, humorously likening it to being at his own wake as he received an outpouring of support online. Acknowledging the condolences he received from fans, celebrities, and collaborators, he said, “from the people at the mall this weekend with my kids to George Clooney and James Gunn, people have really been generous with telling me how much they loved me and liked my work.”
Prominent figures from Hollywood offered their support after Tarantino’s comments went viral. Mike Flanagan, who has worked with Lillard on “The Life of Chuck” and the upcoming “Carrie” series reboot, praised Lillard as “the goddamn greatest.” Meanwhile, James Gunn, who collaborated with him on the “Scooby Doo” movies, called Lillard “one of my favorite guys (and actors).” George Clooney also extended his support, indicating he would be “honored” to work with any of the actors Tarantino criticized.
Initially responding to Tarantino at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio, Lillard said “who gives a shit” about the comments but admitted it hurt to hear, especially knowing actors of a higher status would likely not face such treatment. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly last month, Lillard described the overwhelming support he received as “crazy,” adding, “Nobody has to like me. Nobody has to like any actor out there, obviously. It’s personal preference.” However, he cherished the positive reactions, stating it was beautiful to witness.
Dano also received significant encouragement from fans and peers after the controversy. At Sundance, he expressed gratitude for the support, noting, “it was really nice” to see people advocate for him without him needing to speak up for himself.
In a landscape where artists often face harsh criticism, the overwhelming solidarity among colleagues highlights the strength of community within the industry, showing that support can help mitigate negativity and foster camaraderie.