George Clooney has opened up about how he dealt with hecklers during the Broadway run of his politically charged play “Good Night, And Good Luck,” which closed Sunday.
Speaking with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Clooney described interruptions during performances from audience members across the political spectrum.
“From both sides, we’ve had them yell ‘Resist!’ and stand up and scream and we’ve had others stand up and yell on the other side. That’s OK,” Clooney said.
Clooney, who starred as legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow in the play and the 2005 movie he directed of the same name, said he occasionally addressed the disruptions, but only while staying fully in character.
He’d say a line like:
“As a reporter, I’ve covered protests. I believe our nation was founded on protest and in the great traditions of the First Amendment and the Constitution, I hope you feel satisfied with your protest — and now, you’ll sit down and let everybody else…”
When Cooper asked if the response worked, Clooney replied, “I think it does, kind of. I think people wanted to make their point.”
“It’s hard to really argue against speaking truth to power, because it cuts both ways,” he added. “Both of the powers don’t really want to be challenged all that often.”
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Watch the interview here:
