Editing George Clooney (section)

==Activism and public advocacy==

===Political views===
Clooney supported both of [[Barack Obama]]'s [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|2008]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 25, 2006 |title=Clooney Welcomes Obama's Presidential Bid |work=Hollywood.com |url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3570488 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106043604/http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3570488 |archive-date=November 6, 2006}}</ref> and [[Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign|2012 presidential campaigns]].<ref name="hollywooddonors">(2011-07-16) {{Cite web |title=Hollywood stars open wallets for Obama |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59184.html |access-date=January 23, 2013 |website=[[Politico]] |date=July 16, 2011 |archive-date=November 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121031106/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59184.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clooney endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] for the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boucher |first=Philip |date=April 26, 2016 |title=Tom Hanks Predicts Donald Trump Will Become President When 'Spaceships Come Down Filled With Dinosaurs' |url=http://www.people.com/article/tom-hanks-donald-trump-presidency-spaceship-filled-with-dinosaurs |access-date=July 20, 2016 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |archive-date=September 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914193909/http://www.people.com/article/tom-hanks-donald-trump-presidency-spaceship-filled-with-dinosaurs |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Clooney has also made humorous statements against [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] figures. In 2006, Clooney sarcastically thanked [[Jack Abramoff]] at the [[63rd Golden Globe Awards]] before concluding with "Who would name their kid 'Jack' with 'off' at the end? No wonder the guy's screwed up".<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2006 |title=Clooney 'upset' lobbyist's family |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4634252.stm |access-date=September 14, 2021 |website=BBC News |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525092345/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4634252.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Clooney has also described Republican donor [[Steve Wynn]] as an "asshole" and a "jackass", after the two had a heated disagreement over the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2014 |title=George Clooney, Steve Wynn Trade Verbal Barbs During Las Vegas Dinner |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/george-clooney-steve-wynn-trade-698555/ |access-date=September 14, 2021 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525092344/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/george-clooney-steve-wynn-trade-698555/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Relationship with Joe Biden ===
Clooney endorsed [[Joe Biden]] for the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=van Allen |first=Fox |date=October 29, 2020 |title=Celebrities who support Joe Biden for president |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrities-who-support-joe-biden-for-president/ |access-date=April 21, 2021 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021162923/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrities-who-support-joe-biden-for-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and he hosted a virtual fundraiser for Biden together with Obama in July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=July 28, 2020 |title=Barack Obama And George Clooney Trade A Few Jokes And Talk Of Defeating Donald Trump At Virtual Fundraiser For Joe Biden |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/barack-obama-george-clooney-joe-biden-1202997841/ |access-date=April 21, 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421105927/https://deadline.com/2020/07/barack-obama-george-clooney-joe-biden-1202997841/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In a July 2024 [[op-ed]] for ''[[The New York Times]]'', Clooney called for Biden to withdraw from the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]] after a debate where Biden had underperformed with many critics citing his age as a significant factor. Clooney wrote of his friendship with Biden saying, "I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced." However he stated that, "I saw Biden three weeks ago at my fundraiser for him. It’s devastating to say it, but he is not the same man he was, and he won’t win this fall." In the piece he called on there to be a new nominee citing a possible primary at the [[Democratic National Convention]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clooney |first=George |date=2024-07-10 |title=Opinion {{!}} George Clooney: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/10/opinion/joe-biden-democratic-nominee.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top Democratic fundraiser Clooney calls on Biden to drop out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy68gxw32zno |website=[[BBC News]] |date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=10 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Michael |date=2024-07-10 |title=George Clooney, who hosted major fundraiser for Biden last month, says Democratic Party needs a new nominee {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/10/politics/george-clooney-joe-biden/index.html |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2025, while promoting his [[Broadway (theater)|Broadway]] play ''[[Good Night, and Good Luck (play)|Good Night, and Good Luck]]'', Clooney stated that he, stood by his choice in writing the op-ed saying, "I was raised to tell the truth. I feel as if there was a lot of profiles in cowardice in my party. I was not proud of that. I also believed I had to tell the truth."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/03/24/trump-george-clooney-good-night-and-good-luck-broadway/82636672007/|title= Trump slams 'puff piece' from '60 Minutes' where George Clooney encourages free press|website= [[USA Today]]|accessdate= April 4, 2025}}</ref>

===Humanitarian work===
[[File:George Clooney with Samoura and Reck.JPG|thumb|Clooney in [[Abéché]], [[Chad]], in January 2008 with the United Nations]]
Clooney is involved with [[Not On Our Watch Project]], an organization that focuses global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities, along with [[Brad Pitt]], [[Matt Damon]], [[Don Cheadle]], [[David Pressman]] and [[Jerry Weintraub]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2009 |title=Not on Our Watch Project |url=http://notonourwatchproject.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512213019/http://www.notonourwatchproject.org/ |archive-date=May 12, 2007 |access-date=September 19, 2009 |publisher=Not on Our Watch Project}}</ref> In February 2009, he visited Goz Beida, Chad, with ''[[New York Times]]'' columnist [[Nicholas D. Kristof]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kristof |first=Nicholas |date=February 21, 2009 |title=Sisters, Victims, Heroes |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/opinion/22kristof.html |access-date=May 3, 2010 |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719211930/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/opinion/22kristof.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2010, he organized the telethon ''[[Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief|Hope for Haiti Now]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 22, 2010 |title=George Clooney: "'Hope For Haiti' wird groß!" |url=http://www.mtv.de/news/2010-01-22/21054242-george-clooney-hope-for-haiti-wird-gross.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125145510/http://www.mtv.de/news/2010-01-22/21054242-george-clooney-hope-for-haiti-wird-gross.html |archive-date=January 25, 2010 |access-date=January 23, 2010 |publisher=MTV |language=de}}</ref> which collected donations for the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]] victims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telethon tries to raise 'Hope for Haiti' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/22/haiti.telethon/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924193440/http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/22/haiti.telethon/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2012, Clooney starred with [[Martin Sheen]] and [[Brad Pitt]] in a performance of [[Dustin Lance Black]]'s play ''[[8 (play)|8]]''—a staged reenactment of the [[Perry v. Brown|federal trial]] that overturned California's [[California Proposition 8|Prop 8 ban]] on same-sex marriage—as attorney [[David Boies]].<ref name="8 the play">{{Cite news |date=March 4, 2012 |title=George Clooney, Brad Pitt lead all-star Prop. 8 play reading |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/03/george-clooney-brad-pitt-enact-prop-8-stage-drama.html |access-date=March 18, 2012 |archive-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306220658/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/03/george-clooney-brad-pitt-enact-prop-8-stage-drama.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The production was held at the [[Wilshire Ebell Theatre]] and broadcast on [[YouTube]] to raise money for the [[American Foundation for Equal Rights]].<ref name="8 play video">{{Cite web |title="8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality | date=March 3, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlUG8F9uVgM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/qlUG8F9uVgM |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |access-date=March 18, 2012 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=YouTube to broadcast Proposition 8 play live |publisher=pinknews.co.uk |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/03/01/youtube-to-broadcast-proposition-8-play-live/ |access-date=March 18, 2012 |archive-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304005919/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/03/01/youtube-to-broadcast-proposition-8-play-live/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2012, Clooney offered to take an auction winner out to lunch to benefit the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network ([[GLSEN]]). GLSEN works to create a safe space in schools for children who are or may be perceived to be [[gay]], [[lesbian]], [[bisexual]] or [[transgender]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2012 |title=George Clooney, Neil Patrick Harris Participate in Gay Youth Charity Auction |url=http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=13066&MediaType=1&Category=22 |access-date=September 23, 2012 |magazine=On Top Magazine |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928010135/http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=13066&MediaType=1&Category=22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 7, 2020, George and Amal Clooney donated $100,000 to three Lebanese charities after the capital, Beirut, was left devastated by a deadly explosion. They donated money to the Lebanese [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]], Impact Lebanon, and Baytna Baytak. The blast claimed the lives of at least 145 people and injured more than 5,000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2020 |title=BEIRUT EXPLOSION: GEORGE AND AMAL CLOONEY DONATE £76,000 TO LEBANESE RELIEF CHARITIES |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/beirut-explosion-george-amal-clooney-donate-lebanon-charities-a9659096.html |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Independent |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115215349/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/beirut-explosion-george-amal-clooney-donate-lebanon-charities-a9659096.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===War in Darfur (Sudan)===
[[File:Joe Biden meets George Clooney.jpg|thumb|right|Clooney with [[Vice President Joe Biden]] in 2009]]
Clooney has advocated a resolution of the [[Darfur conflict]].<ref>[http://people.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1315091.php/George_Clooneys_Sudan_help George Clooney's Sudan help] June 7, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315035228/http://people.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1315091.php/George_Clooneys_Sudan_help |date=March 15, 2008 }}</ref> He spoke at a 2006 [[Save Darfur Coalition|Save Darfur]] rally in [[Washington, D.C.]] In April 2006, he spent ten days in Chad and Sudan with his father to make the TV special ''A Journey to Darfur'' reflecting the situation of Darfur's refugees, and advocated for action. The documentary was broadcast on American cable TV as well as in the UK and France. In 2008, it was released on DVD, with the sale proceeds being donated to the [[International Rescue Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2007 |title=American Life TV targets baby boomers: Channel airing Clooney's Darfur docu |url=https://variety.com/2007/tv/features/american-life-tv-targets-baby-boomers-1117966145/ |access-date=September 27, 2014 |website=Variety |archive-date=November 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105234028/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966145.html?categoryid=2522&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stein |first=Joel |date=September 14, 2009 |title=The Time 100: George Clooney |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100/article/0,28804,1595326_1615754_1615880,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504110103/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100/article/0%2C28804%2C1595326_1615754_1615880%2C00.html |archive-date=May 4, 2009 |access-date=September 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Clooney's Docu on Darfur to Air Monday |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/11/ap/entertainment/mainD8MJ771O0.shtml |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101030249/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/11/ap/entertainment/mainD8MJ771O0.shtml |archive-date=November 1, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2008 |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AmericanLife TV Network (ALN) Donates Proceeds From "A Journey to Darfur" DVD to the International Rescue Committee |url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Americanlife-Tv-838350.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113181149/http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Americanlife-Tv-838350.html |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=January 13, 2009}} "In addition to premiering on AmericanLife TV Network, "A Journey to Darfur" has aired on The Community Channel in England and France 2. The documentary has also been shown at festivals and schools around the world, including, The second Refugee Film Festival in Tokyo presented by the UNHCR, Ilaria Alpi Journalistic Television Award based in Riccione, Italy, Milano Doc Festival, and the Human Rights Nights Film Festival in Bologna, Italy."</ref> In September of the same year, he spoke to the UN Security Council with Nobel Prize-winner [[Elie Wiesel]] to ask the UN to find a solution to the conflict and to help the people of Darfur.<ref>Linton, Leyla. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/15/AR2006091500507.html Clooney urges UN action on Darfur] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110041851/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/15/AR2006091500507.html |date=November 10, 2012 }} ''The Washington Post''. September 15, 2006.</ref> In December, he visited China and Egypt with Don Cheadle and two Olympic winners to ask both governments to pressure Sudan's government.<ref>Friedman, Roger. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235977,00.html George Clooney's Secret Mission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104135031/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235977,00.html |date=November 4, 2007 }} Fox News Channel. December 12, 2006.</ref>

On March 25, 2007, he sent an open letter to German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], calling on the [[European Union]] to take "decisive action" in the region given the failure of Sudan President [[Omar al-Bashir]] to respond to UN resolutions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2007 |title=Europe calls on Sudan to accept UN resolution |url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=imprimable&id_article=20965 |access-date=April 28, 2014 |website=Sudan Tribune |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429050954/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=imprimable&id_article=20965 |url-status=live }}</ref> He narrated and was co-executive producer of the 2007 documentary ''[[Sand and Sorrow]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Weissberg |first=Jay |date=June 25, 2007 |title=Sand and Sorrow review |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933979.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416160733/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933979.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Clooney also appeared in the documentary film ''[[Darfur Now]]'', a call-to-action film released in November 2007 for people all over the world to help stop the Darfur crisis.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041022000341/http://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/ Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief].</ref> In December 2007, Clooney and fellow actor Don Cheadle received the Summit Peace Award from the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome. In his acceptance speech, Clooney said that "Don and I ... stand here before you as failures. The simple truth is that when it comes to the atrocities in Darfur ... those people are not better off now than they were years ago."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huver |first=Scott |date=November 26, 2007 |title=Clooney and Cheadle Honored by Nobel Prize Winners |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20162577,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=January 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129201231/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20162577,00.html |archive-date=January 29, 2008}}</ref> On January 18, 2008, the United Nations announced Clooney's appointment as a UN messenger of peace, effective January 31.<ref name="peace" /><ref name="bbc1" />

[[File:George Clooney - White House - October 2010 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Clooney discusses [[War in Darfur|Sudan]] with President [[Barack Obama]] at the White House in October 2010]]
Clooney conceived of and, with [[John Prendergast (activist)|John Prendergast]]—human rights activist, co-founder of the [[Enough Project]], and Strategic Advisor for Not on Our Watch Project—initiated the [[Satellite Sentinel Project]] (SSP), after an October 2010 trip to [[South Sudan]]. SSP aims to monitor armed activity for signs of renewed civil war between Sudan and South Sudan, and to detect and deter mass atrocities along the border regions there.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 21, 2011 |title=George Clooney speaks to CLSA clients |agency=India Infoline News Service |url=http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/George-Clooney-speaks-to-CLSA-clients/5247997370 |access-date=September 22, 2011 |archive-date=September 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926082011/http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/George-Clooney-speaks-to-CLSA-clients/5247997370 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clooney and Prendergast co-wrote a ''[[Washington Post]]'' op-ed piece in May 2011, titled "Dancing with a dictator in Sudan", arguing that:

{{blockquote|President [[Omar al-Bashir]] has been indicted by the [[International Criminal Court]] for [[genocide]], is escalating bombing and food aid obstruction in Darfur, and he now threatens the entire north-south peace process ... the evidence shows that incentives alone are insufficient to change [[Khartoum]]'s calculations. International support should be sought immediately for denying [[debt relief]], expanding the ICC indictments, diplomatically isolating the regime, suspending all non-humanitarian aid, obstructing state-controlled bank transactions and freezing accounts holding oil wealth diverted by senior regime officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hayes |first=Stephen F. |date=May 27, 2011 |title=Dancing with a dictator in Sudan |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dancing-with-a-dictator-in-sudan/2011/05/27/AGYMCzCH_story.html |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=January 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110151250/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dancing-with-a-dictator-in-sudan/2011/05/27/AGYMCzCH_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

On March 16, 2012, Clooney was arrested outside the Sudanese Embassy for [[civil disobedience]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 16, 2012 |title=George Clooney released after Sudan embassy arrest |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17403715 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729174354/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17403715 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="guardian-arrest">{{Cite news |last=Devereaux |first=Ryan |date=March 16, 2012 |title=George Clooney arrested in planned protest at Sudanese embassy |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/16/george-clooney-arrested-sudanese-embassy |access-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-date=November 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117110753/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/16/george-clooney-arrested-sudanese-embassy |url-status=live }}</ref> He intended to be arrested when he planned the protest.<ref name="guardian-arrest" /> Several other prominent participants were also arrested, including [[Martin Luther King III]].<ref name="guardian-arrest" /> Clooney has been described as one of the most strident critics of Omar al-Bashir.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 13, 2017 |title=Donald Trump ducks a decision on sanctions on Khartoum |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21724999-faced-complex-choice-about-unfamiliar-country-president |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715120034/https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21724999-faced-complex-choice-about-unfamiliar-country-president |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Armenian genocide recognition===
Clooney supports [[Armenian genocide recognition|recognition of the Armenian genocide]]. He is one of the chief associates of the 100 Lives Initiative, a project which aims to remember the lives lost during the event.<ref name="huffpost">{{Cite news |last=Sieczkowski |first=Cavan |date=March 11, 2015 |title=George And Amal Clooney Attend '100 Lives' Commemoration |agency=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/george-clooney-amal-clooney-100-lives_n_6846536.html |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326124856/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/george-clooney-amal-clooney-100-lives_n_6846536.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of the initiative, Clooney launched the [[Aurora Prize]], which awards to those who risk their lives to prevent genocides and atrocities.<ref name="huffpost" /><ref name="asbarez">{{Cite news |date=October 27, 2015 |title='There was a genocide of Armenians in 1915,' Says George Clooney |agency=Asbarez |url=http://asbarez.com/141109/there-was-a-genocide-of-armenians-in-1915-says-george-clooney/ |access-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-date=November 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101050345/http://asbarez.com/141109/there-was-a-genocide-of-armenians-in-1915-says-george-clooney/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Clooney had also urged various American government officials to support the United States' recognition of the Armenian Genocide.<ref name="asbarez" /> He also visited [[Armenia]] to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the event in April 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 29, 2015 |title=George and Amal Clooney to visit Armenia next year |agency=PanArmenian |url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/199686/ |access-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-date=October 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030172812/http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/199686/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Syrian refugees===
In May 2015, Clooney told the [[BBC]] that the [[Syrian civil war|Syrian conflict]] was too complicated politically to get involved in and he wanted to focus on helping [[Refugees of the Syrian civil war|the refugees]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=George Clooney: Syria conflict 'incredibly complex' – BBC News |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32791065 |access-date=April 29, 2016 |archive-date=April 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423103011/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32791065 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2016, he and his wife [[Amal Clooney|Amal]] met with Syrian refugees living in [[Berlin]] to mark the fifth anniversary of the conflict, before meeting with German chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] to thank her for Germany's open-door policy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 16, 2016 |title=Amal Clooney tells refugees how her family were once forced to flee their homeland too |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/amal-clooney-and-george-clooney-meet-with-refugees-to-mark-fifth-anniversary-of-syrian-crisis-a6934041.html |access-date=April 29, 2016 |website=The Independent |language=en-GB |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427150812/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/amal-clooney-and-george-clooney-meet-with-refugees-to-mark-fifth-anniversary-of-syrian-crisis-a6934041.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===U.S. gun control===
In 2018, following the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]], the Clooneys pledged $500,000 to the [[March for Our Lives]] and said they would be in attendance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2018 |title=Oprah Follows George and Amal Clooney's Lead, to Donate $500,000 for Parkland Students' March |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/the-wrap/article/George-and-Amal-Clooney-Donate-500-000-for-12626898.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221035907/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/the-wrap/article/George-and-Amal-Clooney-Donate-500-000-for-12626898.php |archive-date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=February 20, 2018}}</ref>

=== LGBTQ rights ===
Clooney is a supporter of [[LGBTQ movements|LGBTQ rights]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Clooney Doesn't 'Give A S**t' If People Think He Is Gay |url=http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/70771/George-Clooney-Doesnt-Give-A-St-If-People-Think-He-Is-Gay- |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001030525/http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/70771/George-Clooney-Doesnt-Give-A-St-If-People-Think-He-Is-Gay- |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |access-date=September 27, 2014 |website=EntertainmentWise}}</ref> On March 28, 2019, Clooney wrote an open letter calling for the boycott of the [[Hassanal Bolkiah|Sultan of Brunei]]'s hotels over a new law that came into force on April 3, 2019, that punishes homosexual sex and adultery with death by [[stoning]]. Clooney lists nine hotels including [[The Dorchester]], 45 Park Lane, [[Coworth Park]], [[The Beverly Hills Hotel]], [[Hotel Bel-Air]], [[Le Meurice]], [[Hotel Plaza Athenee]], Hotel Eden and Hotel Principe di Savoia and asks readers to consider how "we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Brunei to punish gay sex and adultery with death by stoning |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/27/asia/brunei-anti-lgbt-stoning-law-intl/index.html |access-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-date=July 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703215654/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/27/asia/brunei-anti-lgbt-stoning-law-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clooney |first=George |date=March 28, 2019 |title=George Clooney: Boycott Sultan Of Brunei's Hotels Over Cruel Anti-Gay Laws |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/george-clooney-sultain-of-brunei-hotels-boycott-beverly-hills-hotel-anti-gay-laws-brunei-1202584579/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413034807/https://deadline.com/2019/03/george-clooney-sultain-of-brunei-hotels-boycott-beverly-hills-hotel-anti-gay-laws-brunei-1202584579/ |url-status=live }}</ref>