Matthew Lillard Opens Up About Quentin Tarantino Slam: “It Felt Like I Had Died”

In a way, Quentin Tarantino‘s viral criticism of Matthew Lillard was a good thing for the Five Nights at Freddy’s actor. It was only in the wake of the director’s harsh comments that Lillard was able to realize how appreciated he is by both his fans and others in the industry.

But first, he had to go through a bit of hell.

As a refresher, Tarantino said on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast back in December that Lillard was on a list of actors he said he didn’t care for. Speaking initially about Paul Dano, Tarantino said, “I’m not saying he’s giving a terrible performance. I’m saying he’s giving a non-entity [performance]. I don’t care for him. I don’t care for Owen Wilson, I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.”

In a new interview with People, Lillard says, “It felt like I had died and was in heaven watching everyone send out their RIP tweets. I mean, it was really being a part of your own wake, sort of sitting there living through all the nice things people say after you die.

“Everyone, from the people at the mall this weekend with my kids to George Clooney and James Gunn and Mike Flanagan, I mean, people have sort of been really generous with telling me how much they loved me and liked my work,” Lillard continued.

Gunn posted on social media, calling Lillard “one of my favorite guys (and actors).” Clooney said he would be honored to work with any of the actors Tarantino criticized. Flanagan — who has cast Lillard on multiple films — gave a full-throated defense of the actor, calling him “the goddamn greatest.”

Lillard added that Tarantino’s comments especially hurt because he would “love” to be in one of his films. “I think he’s a lovely filmmaker, and to just sort of get punched in the mouth just was kind of a bummer.”

Lillard initially responded to the comments at GalaxyCon Columbus, saying, “Eh, whatever. Who gives a shit. The point is that it hurts your feelings. It fucking sucks. And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood.”

Lillard next appears in Scream 7, reprising his role from the franchise’s first film.