Matthew Lillard Opens up About the Unexpected Support After Quentin Tarantino Publicly Criticized Him

Matthew Lillard recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to discuss the massive wave of support he received after director Quentin Tarantino publicly criticized his acting abilities. Late last year, Tarantino made headlines during a podcast appearance where he dismissed Lillard and Owen Wilson, while also labeling Paul Dano as a particularly weak performer within the industry.

Lillard described the sudden influx of positive messages from fans and colleagues as a deeply moving experience. He compared the online response to witnessing a celebration of his own life, noting that it felt like living through your own wake while still being around to appreciate it. The actor admitted that seeing so many people defend his career was one of the loveliest reactions he could have imagined.

The outpouring of love wasn’t just from fans, as many of Lillard’s past coworkers quickly took to social media to back him up. Director Mike Flanagan called him one of the absolute best in the business, and James Gunn, who worked with him on the live-action Scooby-Doo films, praised him as both a favorite person and a talented actor. George Clooney even weighed in during an awards ceremony, stating he would be proud to share a screen with any of the actors Tarantino mentioned.

Lillard confessed that he kept showing the supportive comments to his wife just to prove that people still liked his work. He acknowledged that while everyone is entitled to their own personal taste, the scale of the public defense was beautiful to see.

He had previously addressed the comments at a fan convention, admitting that while such remarks can hurt, they aren’t the kind of thing anyone would ever say to a top-tier star like Tom Cruise.

Paul Dano also expressed his gratitude for the world speaking up on his behalf, which allowed him to stay out of the fray himself. For Lillard, the situation turned what could have been a negative moment into a high point of his professional life. It served as a reminder that, despite what a few critics might think, his place in Hollywood history is firmly secured by the people he has worked with and the fans who grew up watching him.

As this year gets underway, Lillard is in the middle of a major career resurgence that some are calling a “Lillard-sance.” He recently reprised his role as William Afton in the horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which became a massive box office hit following its release in December 2025. He is also set to make a shocking return to the Scream franchise as Stu Macher in Scream 7, which hits theaters on February 27, alongside Neve Campbell and Isabel May.

Beyond his slasher roots, Lillard is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe this spring as a character named Mr. Charles in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, premiering on Disney+. He also has a lead role as Principal Grayle in Mike Flanagan’s upcoming Carrie miniseries for Prime Video, and he just wrapped filming on Tony Gilroy’s drama Behemoth! with Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde.

Do you think Matthew Lillard’s iconic performance as Shaggy is what makes him such a beloved figure, or is it his legendary status in the horror genre that really commands respect? Share your thoughts in the comments.