George Clooney has issued a $1 million challenge to anyone that can prove he’s behind the leak of online outtakes of the film ‘I Heart Huckabees.’
The footage shows ‘I Heart Huckabees’ director David O. Russell screaming at actress Lily Tomlin. The video hit the web last week, and Clooney, who famously fell out with Russel when they made ‘Three Kings,’ has been accused of the leak.
In a statement released yesterday, however, Clooney wrote: “Contrary to popular opinion, neither the sound man, Ed Tise, nor yours truly sent in the David O. Russell tape. I saw it (footage) when we were working on Ocean’s 12, and there have been quite a few copies traveling around town for the last couple of years. Any rumor that either of us put it on the Internet is simply false.”
Clooney is so determined to prove his innocence that he’s offering a $1 million reward for anyone that can prove that he released the footage.
“(I will) offer a million bucks to anyone who would prove otherwise,” said Clooney.
The movie star was accused of the leak by rumors circulated from two gossip websites, Radaronline.com and Defamer.com. Both sites said that Clooney was responsible for releasing the movie outtakes.
The sites noted that Clooney is currently working with sound mixer Ed Tise. Tise worked on ‘I Heart Huckabees’ as well.
As for the details of the released clip, they show Russell and Tomlin experiencing creative differences of the caliber that caused screaming and desk throwing on the set of the 2004 movie.
Defamer.com put the clips on Youtube, while Radaronline.com linked them to Clooney’s name.
“Sources told Radar that Clooney…was the one circulating the clip,” the magazine reported on its website.
Radaronline.com said Clooney had both motive and access because of his previous feud with Russell combined with access to Tice, who is working with Clooney on the film ‘Leatherheads.’
“He doesn’t know how to put a video on YouTube,” Clooney’s publicist Stan Rosenfield told the magazine. “He barely knows how to email.”
David O. Russell once turned down a high-priced offer regarding Clooney.
“I wouldn’t make another George Clooney movie if they paid me $20 million,” Russell has been quoted as saying.
No word on if Russell will take up Clooney’s $1 million challenge.
Sources:
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Clooney_I_Didnt_Leak_Huckabees_Footage/3675962
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/03/29/ap3566148.html
http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=f71b36fe-6137-4f01-9a27-9c991b2983a7