PARIS – In a recent turn of events, George Clooney has revealed that his family was compelled to flee their residence in southeastern France due to a nearby raging wildfire, as confirmed by his agent on Thursday.
The acclaimed Hollywood actor, renowned for his roles in the Ocean’s Eleven series and numerous other cinematic projects, made this disclosure in a heartfelt letter addressed to Didier Bremond. Bremond is the mayor of Brignoles, a town situated around 90 kilometers (55 miles) east of Marseille. This information was shared by Clooney’s publicist, Guido Gotz, in an email to The Associated Press.
Opening with a cordial “Dear Didier,” the letter expressed uncertainty, stating, “At this point, we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment.” As the Clooney family made the difficult decision to leave Brignoles, they wanted to highlight two key points in their message.
“Firstly, we hope you and the people of our city stay safe. Secondly, Amal and I are committed to ensuring that whatever happens to our village, we remain part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole again,” Clooney wrote, referencing his wife Amal, who is a distinguished human rights attorney.
The fire affecting areas near Brignoles erupted on Wednesday afternoon, consuming approximately 100 hectares (247 acres), according to local officials. This blaze, while concerning, is smaller in scale compared to a massive wildfire that has recently devastated the Bordeaux region in southwestern France.
About 700 residents were evacuated and were allowed to return to their homes on Thursday after the fire was brought under control, they added.
The French government in December announced that the Clooneys along with their their twins Ella and Alexander were awarded French citizenship.
The couple purchased their estate in France in 2021. In an interview with Esquire last October, Clooney described their “farm in France” as their primary residence.
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