(LONDON, ENGLAND) — George Clooney scolded a British newspaper over a “completely fabricated” article claiming his fiancée’s mother disapproves of the impending marriage for religious reasons.
In a statement, Clooney said Wednesday that the claims about his future mother-in-law, Baria Alamuddin, were untrue and irresponsible.
Beirut-born Alamuddin comes from a Druze family — adherents of a monotheistic religion based mainly in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.
The Daily Mail cited unnamed “friends” as saying Amal Alamuddin risked being “cast out of the community” because she was not marrying a Druze man. The newspaper said “several women have been murdered” for not abiding by strict Druze rules.
Clooney said in a statement that “none of the story is true. Amal’s mother is not Druze. She has not been to Beirut since Amal and I have been dating, and she is in no way against the marriage.”
According to sources close to the family, Clooney’s future mother-in-law is elated about the upcoming nuptials between her daughter and the actor.
“Baria is very happy and in seventh heaven,” the source says.
Walid Jumblatt, political leader of the Druze sect in Lebanon, told the Associated Press recently that he hoped the couple would soon visit the Druze heartland.
Clooney will bring us “great publicity,” Jumblatt said. “He can make a movie about the Druse sect.”