George Clooney says Tom Cruise ‘didn’t overreact’ with viral COVID rant

George Clooney expressed his support for Tom Cruise, saying his fellow Hollywood megastar “didn’t overreact” when he flew off the handle on his movie set after seeing two staffers violate COVID-19 safety protocols.

“He didn’t overreact because it is a problem,” Clooney said during an appearance Wednesday on SiriusXM’s “The Howard Stern Show,” where he was promoting his new film “The Midnight Sky,” People reported.

“I have a friend who’s an AD [assistant director] on another TV show who just had the almost exact same thing happen with not quite as far out a response,” the 59-year-old continued.

“I wouldn’t have done it that big. I wouldn’t have, you know, pulled people out,” Clooney added. “You’re in a position of power and it’s tricky, right? You do have a responsibility for everybody else and he’s absolutely right about that.

“And, you know, if the production goes down, a lot of people lose their jobs. People have to understand that and have to be responsible. It’s just not my style to, you know, to take everybody to task that way,” the Oscar winner said.

Cruise went on a rant after he reportedly saw two staffers on the set of “Mission: Impossible 7” violating safety protocols by standing less than six feet apart.

“If I see you do it again, you’re f—ing gone! And if anyone in this crew does it, that’s it — and you too and you too! And you, don’t you ever f—ing do it again!” Cruise was heard yelling in a leaked audio clip from the Sun.

Meanwhile, Clooney also issued his own clear — and expletive-filled — message for people who refuse to wear face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Just put a f—ing mask on,” he told the shock jock, not mincing words, The Hill reported. “This thought where everybody is like, ‘Well it’s my freedom.’ It’s like, that’s not how this s–t works, dumbass.”

He continued: “Your freedom is this: You’re free to smoke until your lungs turn black, but you can’t do it on the bus. And you’re free to drink until your liver comes out your ass, but you can’t drink and then get behind the wheel of a car.

“There have to be certain rules. This is one that says, ‘Put on a f—ing mask and we’ll get through this. We’ve got vaccines coming — let’s save another 60,000 lives before the vaccines,” he added.