George Clooney has always been seen as Hollywood royalty, but in recent years he has been brushing shoulders with actual royals, especially Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. For a while, he was the charming friend who seemed to move seamlessly between Hollywood glamour and palace prestige. But now, the shine is starting to wear off. Whispers of controversy, awkward remarks, and sharp opinions are painting him as more of a liability than the “royal favorite” he once was.
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Clooney was one of the loudest defenders of Meghan Markle when the press first turned on her. He compared her struggles with the media to the tragic story of Princess Diana, a comment that shocked some royal watchers and earned him applause from Meghan supporters. To Harry and Meghan, Clooney wasn’t just a friend — he was a powerful Hollywood ally. Their connection was strong enough that the Clooneys were invited to the Sussexes’ royal wedding, even though it was said they barely knew each other before then. That sparked the first wave of questions: how close were they really, and was this friendship built on genuine trust or on shared media interests?
But Clooney’s outspoken nature has become a double-edged sword. Known for being politically vocal, especially against Donald Trump, he has put himself in the middle of polarizing debates that don’t sit comfortably with everyone. His sharp criticism of Trump made headlines in both America and Britain, which tied his name more closely to political drama than to the clean-cut image of a Hollywood star. Add to that his defense of Meghan, and suddenly Clooney looked less like the charming actor and more like a man on a mission.
Behind the scenes, some royal insiders reportedly raised eyebrows at how quickly Clooney seemed to take Meghan’s side. For those loyal to the monarchy, his words were seen as interference — an outsider speaking too loudly about palace matters. His “royal favorite” title started to look less like an honor and more like a risk. The royals are careful about who they let into their trusted circle, and Hollywood stars rarely escape the spotlight unscathed.
Clooney’s own image has also begun to crack. Age, health concerns, and the pressure of staying relevant in a changing industry have not made things easy. While he remains one of Hollywood’s most respected figures, he’s no longer untouchable. The more he speaks out, the more critics line up to question whether he should be weighing in on issues that reach beyond Hollywood scripts and charity galas. The joke now is that George Clooney doesn’t just need good PR — he needs an emergency room for his reputation.
Still, Clooney thrives on being unafraid of backlash. He has never hidden his political opinions, and he has never backed down from supporting Meghan when others turned away. But the cost of being both Hollywood’s leading man and the royals’ outspoken defender is mounting. The role of “royal favorite” may not be as glamorous as it once seemed, and Clooney, for all his charm, is learning that the crown comes with shadows.