Matthew Lillard’s child, Ace Lillard, recently came to their father’s defense after Quentin Tarantino criticized the actor, placing him among three performers whose work he didn’t appreciate.

Lillard, aged 55, is well-known for his roles in popular films like “Scream,” “Scooby-Doo,” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Together with his wife Heather, he has three children: Addison, 23, Ace, 21, and Liam, 17.

On Sunday, Ace, who uses they/them pronouns, responded to Tarantino’s remarks by posting on Instagram. They issued a heartfelt statement countering the disparaging comments made by the 62-year-old director of “Pulp Fiction.”

“To whom it may concern: My dad is a talent, he is a joy, and he will always be my hero on screen and off,” Ace expressed. “Not only is my dad the kind of creative I strive to be, but he is the kind of decent, humble human I hope to become.”

Ace, currently studying acting at Carnegie Mellon University, subtly criticized Tarantino’s unsolicited comments about their father.

‘Creatives are supposed to lift each other up, and find empathy for those we may have a hard time understanding,’ said Ace. ‘My dad does his best to embody that.’

Actor Matthew Lillard’s child Ace Lillard defended their father after Quentin Tarantino named him as one of three actors whose work he didn’t care for. Pictured in NYC in October 

Ace praised their father – who admitted the comments from Tarantino stung – for being a performer who ‘truly connects with the people who find refuge in his characters and in his art.’

‘As a young queer person, it is deeply healing to watch my dad do his best to connect with people on the fringes of our society, especially young trans people and my community as a whole.’

Ace said that they ‘deeply respect’ Tarantino – the influential filmmaker whose credits include Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds.

Nonetheless, they were saddened to see him publicly express a take on their father that ‘does not reflect his character or the quality of his artistry in the slightest.’

Said Ace, ‘I believe in the power of art and the power of the artist,’ adding that ‘creating is meant to lift us all up and celebrate all of us, not just a select few.’

Ace referenced the busy year their father has had amid a career resurgence, with parts in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which was released on December 2; and upcoming releases such as the film Scream 7 and an adaptation of the horror classic Carrie.

‘I’m so proud of the year my dad has had,’ Ace said, ‘and the one that is ahead.’

Ace wrapped up in saying, ‘He is my day one, and I will always be fiercely proud of him.’

On Sunday, Ace, who uses they/them pronouns, took to Instagram with a defense of their father – centered around a statement pushing back on the demeaning comments from the Pulp Fiction director, 62 

Lillard, the 55-year-old star of motion pictures such as Scream, Scooby-Doo and Five Nights at Freddy’s, is father to three children with wife Heather: Addison, 23, and Ace, 21, and Liam, 17.

Ace said of their father, ‘He is my day one, and I will always be fiercely proud of him’

Lillard had addressed his disappointment with being name checked by Tarantino –  along with actors Paul Dano and Owen Wilson – during an appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast.

‘It hurts your feelings, it f***ing sucks and he wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise,’ the Lansing, Michigan-born actor told the audience at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend.

Lillard suggested Tarantino was taking cheap pot shots at actors who couldn’t fight back: ‘He wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood … it’s humbling, and it hurts … whatever, who gives a s***.’

Lillard said that while he was ‘very popular’ among the fans at the event, he was ‘not very popular in Hollywood,’ as they were ‘two totally different microcosms.’ 

Next up, Lillard will be seen reprising his role as Stu in the seventh instalment of the Scream franchise, set to debut in theaters on February 27 next year. 

The controversy was sparked after Tarantino gave an unsolicited opinion who he thinks is the worst actor in Hollywood.    

Lillard’s career has been on the upswing in recent years, following his lauded performance as William Afton in 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 

While speaking about his twenty favorite movies, Tarantino said that he wanted to rate the Paul Thomas Anderson period drama There Will Be Blood higher than number five – but couldn’t, because of Paul Dano’s performance as twins Paul and Eli Sunday. 

‘There Will Be Blood would stand a good chance at being no. 1 or 2 if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw in it… and the flaw is Paul Dano,’ Tarantino said on the podcast. ‘Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander. [Dano] is weak sauce, man. 

Tarantino described Dano as ‘the weak sister’ of the period drama, which garnered leading man Daniel Day-Lewis one of his three career Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role .

Tarantino then piled on with two more names of actors he wasn’t partial toward: ‘I don’t care for Owen Wilson, I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.’