Amal Clooney was in New York this week to make another appearance at the United Nations on behalf of Nadia Murad, her Yazidi client who was raped and tortured by ISIS. Amal wants the UN to do more about ISIS’s acts of genocide against the Yazidi people. It’s all very heavy stuff, and you can hear more about Amal’s campaign here. Amal sat down with the BBC to talk about Nadia and ISIS, and of course she got some kind of question about being married to George Clooney and whether she feels like her marriage has helped or hurt her career.
Amal Clooney had a life long before she met George Clooney. As a result of George’s international fame, Amal became somewhat of a celebrity in her own right. But the 39-year-old human rights lawyer, who is expecting twins, said she doesn’t mind the attention that comes with being married to a movie star—if only for a very specific reason.
“There is lots of my work that takes place behind closed doors that is not ever seen,” Amal explained to Fiona Bruce Tuesday on BBC News at Six. From her perspective, if people are interested in her—for whatever reason—they may also become invested in her altruistic endeavors. “I think if there are more people who now understand what’s happening about the Yazidis and ISIS, and if there can be some action that results from that, that can help those clients, then I think it’s a really good thing to give that case the extra publicity that it may get.”
I’m including the video below. I have mixed feelings about this, because obviously, women don’t have to be just one thing. I also feel like women don’t have to all the things, all the time. We’re punished either way – if Amal didn’t give a sh-t about fashion and red carpets, she would be criticized for that. If she dropped her legal work to just become George Clooney’s Wife, she would be criticized for that. So she does everything – she’s a fashionista, a red carpet poser, a wife and soon-to-be mother, and she has a legal career. A legal career which gets more attention because of all of that other stuff. I often wonder if Amal is glamorizing her legal work, or if she’s making the glamour of Hollywood more “serious.” Or is it both?
Amal Clooney says she doesn't mind being known as George Clooney's wife if it helps her publicise the plight of the Yazidis#BBCNewsSix pic.twitter.com/72gGm9l8fB
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 7, 2017
Amal also has a feature in the current issue of The Economist, with Nadia – you can read it here.
Amal Clooney, Nadia Murad and the fight against Islamic State #InternationalWomensDay https://t.co/zjZ3zPeCXD From @1843mag pic.twitter.com/x3dlMw3g7B
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) March 8, 2017
And here are some photos of Amal outside of the UN yesterday.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
I think she can do her work and still be a glam goddess (or a glam goddess wannabe to some people). I really like Amal because she doesn’t pretend to have disdain for her new fame or the cameras and she appears to handle all of these quite well. She gives me the confident vibes of ”Ok…I’ll just do this and I’ll still go to work. Ok, I like wearing nice dresses but I’ll still have my work to do. If you give me attention, fine I’ll take it but I’ll still go my own merry way.” I think she is just mature enough to know what she married into and she’s not going to hide herself.
If there’s a celeb who appears like a I want to have it all, do it all and you can too if you’re as good and disciplined as me, it’s Goop. No?
Yeah, she seems comfortable with the attention (in that she knows what to expect, accepts it, and handles it gracefully).
To me, she appears to love the attention on herself (not her work) as much as all the other women he dated in the last 20 years.
If this is true, that she loves the attention, would that be a bad thing? Frankly, she’s going to get a lot of attention because of who she married. If she hated the attention, she’d be miserable.
I agree. And this is why it always cracks me up when people say (for example) Megan Markle loves media attention as if it’s a bad thing. Duh. A truly private person could never be with any of these men. I think Amal handles it pretty gracefully.
She’s a barrister and before her human rights work she cut her teeth in entertainment law, and those things attract people who are confident in the public sphere.
You are correct in saying that she has more attention now, but it’s a weird thing that “celebrity” does in that she has become more interesting to the layperson as she became more involved with Clooney: for example, her wiki page is now very detailed but has only existed since 2014 when she got engaged to him.
I’m not saying good or bad, but interesting. All his other girlfriends were shamed for glorying in the attention, but she’s praised for it.
I don’t understand why Amal is given a pass for enjoying the attention, while George’s exes were derided for the same thing.
She is so fake with her causes! Question As a lawyer has she won any of human Rights cases? She is an opportunist.
As someone who used to work in the legal sector, I can confirm that she’s an excellent human rights lawyer and was fairly well-known for her work before her marriage.
Actually yes, she has won some of her human rights cases. Here are a couple of them:
President of the Maldives, Mohammed Nasheed, has been granted asylum in the United Kingdom due to Amal’s work. She also worked for and defended Julia Tymoshenkom Abdullah al-Senussi & Julian Assange. As well as Mohamed Fahmy (an Al-Jazeera English journalist detained in Egypt following an unfair trial)
She has also worked with Kofi Annan for a United Nations commission on Syria and acting as counsel during a 2013 inquiry into the use of drones in counter-terrorist activities. She has also contributed to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative, which works to defend the rights of women in war zones, and in early 2015 announced that she would represent Armenia in the European Court of Human Rights during its case against Turkey for the denial of the Armenian genocide.
I don’t disagree that she may use her new celebrity to her advantage but she has worked very hard on her own to get where she is. If being married to George brings awareness to important causes, I don’t see the harm.
She did not ‘win’ that case. She got him medical release to the UK for an emergency back surgery that could only be done there. Yet, he didn’t have the surgery, just started holding press conferences. I don’t call lying winning a case.
She was a jr. and still is. She had all of the advantages and decided to take a short cut to fame and fortune by participating in this pr/contract marriage. No shade, if someone offered me 20 mill for a fake marriage, I would do it too. But please don’t pretend she’s more than that.
Lastly, I’m a lawyer and have worked with DS and she was never any big deal before Clooney.
Fake?
She’s doing good work, enjoys her glamorous life, and benefits from a famous husband. All the power to her.
Yep. Most appealing to me is the fact that, though stylish and attractive, he clearly was most attracted to her brains and accomplishments. Good for her. I despise the expectation that accomplished women should act girlish and faux-modest.
Exactly. The type of career she has was always going to give her some notoriety and she’s always had pretty good style that has been elevated now that she has access to whatever her heart desires.
I never really “got” it and I think their wedding was a bit much but after looking more into her career and what she’s done for someone her age, I really dont think she’s glamorizing her work – jobs/careers like hers are one in a million. Just do a quick google and see what I’m talking about. Of course she loves the limelight and glamour and red carpets. But shes literally doing groundbreaking work at the same time. It doesnt have to be mutually exclusive.
I know people who work very closely with her. She’s a very serious and very successful lawyer, in maybe the top barrister chambers (for Americans, law firm) in her field.
Oh hello Baria…
She’s been schooled on PR by her mother who attends many of her press events. Check out the Amal style blog where you can worship at the alter of the she-God.
Oh my, Nan. That’s intense. Such is the Celebitchy comment board, I guess.
She likes more the attention than her work, because people talk more about her clothes than her clients if she really want to help Nadia she should’ve put Nadia front and centre, all tabloids report is her clothes and baby bump. Speaking of baby bump she is 6 months pregnant with twins and that bump say otherwise.
Uh…that’s what tabloids do? I thought a few posters who’ve been pregnant already said not all women carry the same way? Erh…why do we insist women should do it all, if not it’s not good enough?
Maybe Nadia had enough of being the center of unwanted attention while being a sex slave to ISiS?
Nadia is extremely shy, and extremely vulnerable. She’s being brave enough just doing this at all, she doesn’t need to be a media darling too.
She’s also not an international human rights lawyer. They’re not just out there telling Nadia’s story, they’re trying to get what they need to build a solid case against IS, and to do that Nadia needs a lawyer to speak for her on a lot of matters.
But she did put Nadia front and center: the interview was about Nadia and her case. She did the interview as Nadia’s lawyer, working on behalf of her client (can’t help the Clooney question). Were you expecting Nadia to be paraded around? This is par for the course in high profile cases.
Also, what a strange comment, re: her pregnancy. She’s a tall, thin woman with a long torso, not to mention that every woman carries differently (some don’t “pop” until the last month)… so it’s (a lot) unreasonable to expect her or anyone to conform to X size by Y month.
Amal reads to me like an Alpha Woman, confident secure, willing to play corollary to that well I’ve yet to meet a successful Wallflower type Trial Lawyer.. all the ones i’ve worked for/been around are strong assertive types of personalities.. the ones that aren’t I tend to see in more procedural/different type of law work? maybe just me
Agree. My cousin’s girlfriend is a lawyer and while she is really nice, she has to put this “tough” mask at work. I do believe that a lot of women have to be Alpha types (or at least pretend to be) in order to be taken seriously.
Personally I like Amal a lot, and if her husband’s fame is helping her to bring light to important social issues, I’m fine with that.
I agree with you both. I don’t understand the dislike that she garners on this site. She appears very professional and comfortable in her power, knowledge, abilities, and just in who she is, regardless of Clooney. I can absolutely see where George would want to tie the knot with her.
Sort of a back-handed compliment but I think she looks fantastic pregnant. The extra weight really agrees with her. Granted, most of the time, I think she is appears gaunt and underweight.
I think she is brave!
I don’t know if she has it all, but I see no reason why she shouldn’t have all she does, and clearly neither does she. On a fashion note, the UN outfit is lovely. Hard color to pull off, but she’s working it.
I have a love/hate look with her fashion sense. The yellow outfit falls into the “love” category. Regardless, I appreciate her fashion even when it goes wrong. Doesn’t it for all of us sometime? I mean you look back at photos of a Christmas outfit and just wonder what the heck you were thinking!
Why not both? When we set parameters as an “either or” proposition, we limit the resulting discourse.
She’s class all around. Period. Smart, private, gorgeous, motivated, independent. Say what you will but she’s a cool woman.
Totally agree. She’s not a wrestler looking for the career bump. And she’s right about the boost to her causes. Why wouldn’t you use that attention for good? Jolie does it. That’s why she was given a UN position. Plus I usually love her clothes lol. Win/win.
Her engagement was definitely a career bump for her. She is still a junior barrister and has not been lead counsel on any case. Her engagement to Clooney got her worldwide attention at a level no other lawyer can ever get, except maybe Johnny Cochran following the OJ trial.
Her Chambers love that this celebrity gets her attention and clients, but she is not exactly the one doing the legal research and attending court for the clients. Any other lawyer of her vintage would still be doing a lot of the grunt work. She is not a stupid woman, but she is also not the brightest legal mind out there either. She is great at PR and in international human rights law, it is probably better to understand publicity, because many countries don’t recognize the International Criminal Court anyway, including the US, and often shaming a country to do the right thing works better than a legal ruling.
I love her. Fun fashion too.
Honestly, I admire how she’s at ease with everything, tbh. I always thought that Clooney lucked out in marrying HER.
Yep!
He went high and she went low. She is so much better than him!
If George is “beneath” Amal, then why did she stoop to marry him, instead of a man more on “her level?”
If Amal’s marriage to Mr. Clooney is bringing attention to the Yazidis and the help that they need from the world, then I am more than fine with it. THAT is the story here, not Amal Clooney and her choices in maternity wear.
I love her and I completely agree – if being known as Clooney’s wife brings her attention and attention to her work, so be it. Good for her. Amal, don’t you apologize for being sexy, stylish, smart and married to a celebrity! It irritates me to no end when people criticize her (or any successful woman) for being pretty, glamorous, liking good clothes/shoes, etc.
Yesterday, I was at a powerful luncheon for women attorneys in Wake Co. (yes, perhaps why I admire Amal so much) and the State Auditor of the State of North Carolina, Beth Wood, told the most amazing story that happened during her initial campaign in 2009. She was running against a man. They spoke at an event in Charlotte and debated the issues. At the end he said, “if you want a workhorse, not a SHOWHORSE, elect me”! Ms. Wood smartly replied, “I suppose I didn’t get the memo that in order to be smart, you have to be ugly”! She said all the women at the rally fell out in the aisles and roared with approval. No one else heard or remembered anything except for that. She went on to win, without corporate support or donations from pretty much anyone. She won because she was smart, qualified and the best woman for the job. So, please, no more of the sexist criticism of Amal whereby we imply that a woman is doing something wrong by being smart, and pretty and well dressed! I am so happy to see supportive comments on this thread!
She looks so gorgeous pregnant
She’s a complete fraud. She lobbied to get the Lockerbie terrorist not only free from the death penalty BUT FREED. How many innocent women and children did he kill? The only prominent client she had before George was Assange. How’d that work out? Not a word about him now. All of her “clients” now have ties to either George’s handlers (Podesta, Soros, Vardanyan…you know…RUSSIA…BUT TRUMP!) or the Muslim Brotherhood. She’s never led nor “won” a case on her own or gotten one by herself. She’s well connected. The timeline of her “involvement” with this Yazidi girl is suspicious at best. In face, do we even know if this Nadia girl is telling the truth? Everything about the Clooneys is “Fake news”. Read “Amal Clooney Enemy of Democracy”. She should be on Trump’s travel ban. George tried for treason. Jerks.
whoa whoa whoa!! Are you seriously doubting the victim???
And as an Armenian, I can tell you we were very grateful to have George and Amal’s spotlight on the Armenian Genocide…it’s a real thing, it happened, my grandfather was 2 and had to be raised by his 13 year old sister because everyone else in the family was murdered and their money and gold stolen
Mar Time, please ignore the right-wing conspiracy nut troll. I have no idea what s/he is doing on celebitchy, they seemed to have strayed from whatever tinfoil hat-wearing twilight zone they usually inhabit.
Also, I am very sorry to hear about how your family was impacted during the Armenian genocide, Mar Time. How awful for your grandfather and his siblings. Thank you for sharing some of your family story.
The Armenian genocide deserves much more attention than it receives.
All I’m going to say is that with Amal, George got what he deserves. And you can take that any way you want.
Be an Alpha female; slay with (questionable) fashion choices; engage with human rights ambassador-y causes… But, please, do it with some modicum of humility.
Given the sensitivity of the causes she chooses to align herself with, she tacitly lacks discernment. How so you ask? OK, so when you are walking in front of the paps with Nadia, a former ISIS sex slave and survivor who has seen more abject horror than many of us can imagine, girl don’t be serving up a Naomi Campbell Zoolander runway walk.
Yes amazing , use George’s fame to bring a spotlight on worthy causes but leave the supermodel sashay for the red carpet. Mug it up there girl.
👍👍x a million Nan and Ruyana. And LMFAO at the headline. Amal is only “fine” with publicity and fame? Puhleeze…..
See this seems like women just can’t win.
Maybe she should just put a bag over her head, her strong features (which she highlights with cosmetics, slut) and enviable hair (which she styles, harlot) would be noticeable no matter what she wears or how she walks (or, actually, sashays, strumpet)!
I am sure ISIS would agree that she has no business having a job (or respect) , anyway.
I exaggerate I know but do you see my point? Not trying to be snarky but, dang, I just don’t get these comments.
@Tulip Garden – Call a spade a spade. You are not trying, but have accomplished, being snarky.
Why is your thinking so binary? There’s no middle ground between quietly dignified humility and outward extravagance?
I wish life were that simple and could be reduced to the lowest common denominator (i.e. Slut, harlot etc). Why can’t we have thoughtful discussions without the shady snark?
*shaking head*
@Jane,
You’re right, I was being snarky and should’ve owned that. As noted, I was exaggerating to make a point. I’m aware that there is middle ground but the comments I was responding to didn’t seem to acknowledge that hence the exaggeration.
I happen to feel that Amal is perfectly capable of doing a good job while still enjoying style and attention. Honestly, I wish all women felt free to shine in as many ways as possible without worrying about who they might offend. It particularly galled me because it is in stark contrast to the way the victim she is representing was not allowed to live her life without being raped.
I will say fair play to you as I understand where you are coming from.
I’m a hactivism and cyberwar reporter and frankly, she’s always been who she is now. No shame.
@Tulip Garden: co-sign! What is she supposed to do? Not marry George? What if (gasp) she actually loves him? Not be pretty? Not wear makeup? She says she’s ‘fine’ with the extra publicity. Cool. What should she say? “I LOVE IT BECAUSE I AM A FAMEWHORE AND YOU ALL SHALL BOW AT MY FEET, LOSERS” or, “No, I hate it, leave me alone.” I mean really? She’s clearly very accomplished and attractive and I think that’s great. I don’t have any desire to drag a woman down for achieving. When women do, I wonder at their level of self-confidence. I’m not a top human rights lawyer, and I’m not married to a movie star and I’m not tall and striking like she is. But it doesn’t bother me because I have full love for what l have accomplished, how I look and who *I* am. Once we find that, it’s easy to be happy for other women, because we recognize our own self for being valuable as well. Sorry, I’m reading the book “Catfight: Rivalries Among Women – From Diets to Dating From the Boardroom to the Delivery Room” right now LOL (also, highly recomment it).
@shannon whoa girl!
Just because one woman critiques or disapproves of another woman does not make it catty, a pitted catfight or jealousy. It’s so anachronistic and reductive and completely plays into the sexist narrative that women can’t have agency over her feelings. Sometimes you just don’t like someone …
If men disagree that’s the end of the story. Why is it so different for women?
I knew Amal (pre-George). She was incredibly hard-working, ambitious and unbelievably self-absorbed. Before George pygmalion’ed her into Eliza Do-legal – she was destined for fame. I respected her work ethic but that’s where it ended. I Iike folks who are down-to-earth and humble; therefore I didn’t like Amal. Not surprised to read the not-so-flattering commentary, not surprised at all.
Wow, can the girl live? I don’t understand some of the negative comments towards her, if she can use her marriage to bring attention to horrific cases, what’s the harm? I think in one way or another we all use our connections ( if we have them) to get something that will either benefit us or someone/ something we care about. I really don’t see the harm….
Why does the author choose a head photo where Amal looks like a Disney villian?
Smart, confident, educated, and a successful career pre-marriage.
[*Sounds good to me.*]