Did George Clooney's Girlfriend Spark Engagement Rumors for Publicity?

By Catherine Donaldson-Evans Posted Aug 19th 2010 12:00PM

Stars needing a little PR jolt would be wise to follow Elisabetta Canalis' example: Flash a fake engagement ring. And wait.

George Clooney's other half set off a firestorm at a dinner in Italy when she held up her left hand and flaunted something resembling a giant, glittery rock. TMZ quickly posted photos -- couching them by saying the bauble only "looked like" a will-you-marry-me diamond.

Never mind. It was enough, and the press was off and running. Soon, headlines blaring "George Clooney Off the Market?" were everywhere. The Hollywood powerhouse's rep was quick to shoot down the buzz, saying only that the bling on the Italian model's finger was "a napkin ring" she was playing around with at the table. Yes. Bizarre. Read on for a history of not-quite-engagements.

Those in the thick of the celebrity-gossip fray muse that it was all done for publicity. After all, Canalis, 31, has been a guest star this summer on TNT's 'Leverage' and has a new Italian comedy coming out this fall, 'I Will Marry at Christmas.' Clooney's next film, 'The American,' is due in theaters in September.

"Clearly people are starting to use these faked rumors simply to keep [themselves] in the news and in everybody's faces," Syracuse University pop culture guru Bob Thompson told PopEater.

It's not the first time the 49-year-old movie star and his girlfriend have been at the heart of engagement rumors -- and the other kind, the ones about breaking up. In the spring, the tabloids were atwitter with news that the pair, who have been dating since August 2009, had split. The couple later quashed those rumblings, with Clooney joking wryly to reporters, "Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story."

The famously stubborn bachelor, who was married eons ago, has said he would never take the plunge again because he's afraid he'd "still make a lousy husband." But a girl can dream, can't she? Even if it's with a silly old napkin ring?

Mind you, Clooney and Canalis are not the first Hollywood couple to generate a media blitz with bling buzz.

In July, Bret Michaels' sometimes-girlfriend was seen wearing a proposal-style piece of jewelry. Michaels issued a statement denying they were about to walk down the aisle. "We're not engaged. It's a work in progress. What happened is she has a beautiful promise ring. A promise ring, a friendship ring with benefits." Come again?

Leonardo DiCaprio's girl, Bar Rafaeli, explained the engagement ring she wore on her left hand by saying her friend makes them, she likes to try them on and "they won't fit any other finger except this one." Talk about a quote that will leave you speechless. So far, her movie star boyfriend still hasn't popped the question.

Last summer, Tyra Banks was spotted sporting something sparkly on her ring finger, fueling a fury about an impending marriage to boyfriend John Utendahl. Her people told the gossip mill: "Tyra is not engaged. It's her high school ring, and she wears it almost every day." The pair still have yet to wed.

Sometimes stars seen wearing diamonds deny they're engaged and then get hitched in a secret wedding a few months later. (Think Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr.) Why do they do it? To throw off the press? To get publicity, then throw off the press? We can only speculate...

And there are those media haters, blast them, who accuse celebrity journalists of being desperate for a story, star-obsessed and quick to publish whatever gossip lands in their inboxes, true or false. To that, I say guilty, sort of guilty and not guilty. In that order.

Either way, we may be seeing Clooney and Canalis tying the knot in a hush-hush ceremony a couple months from now. Or we may keep reading the same rumors over and over again. But maybe, just maybe, hearing that Clooney is casting off his long-held bachelorhood will make us buy tickets to 'The American.'

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Tags: Elisabetta Canalis, George Clooney

Comments

(24)

Thursday 19 August

By Chappel

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George Clooney would make a great husband... as long as his wife doesn't mind him sleeping with other women.

By flfyktn

now now, we all know that no actors/actresses sleep around. What ficious rumors people spread. LOL :)

By vickie

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He will never marry a woman....

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By JeanB

And men.

By drday1

A friend of mine swear George Clooney is Gay...are their plans to out him ? You know Hollywood is vicious about outing gays they think can help their cause...anyone ever heard this rumor? Just asking...I think he's a great actor so I don't care one way or the other as long as he keeps politics out of his movies.

By Sassy

yes, I have friends who say the same about him...seems about right.

By bublerocks

"Husband"!!! That is amusing. George Clooney with his handsome looks and single at this age... I think not... I personally think the "girlfriend" is merely a cover up.

By Chili Challis

Did a little show with his dad Nick in Cincy...the Clooney's are a great family.

By ?

So bored about hearing about her . Can you do an article on Sarah Larson ? Where is she now ? Curious about what happened to her . An interview with Larson would be a good read . Why do gossip rags even talk about Eli ? Not a hater just find her as interesting as Heidi montag . She was saying people were jelouse of her ? Who would want a man who has a habit of replaceing you at any minute ? Think he's a great guy and all that ( not dissing him ) he has a habit of turning on women who get too arogant . If I was her I would keep my suit cases packed . That man has so many options .he could snap his fingers and have a million women begging for him . God bless him .

By Bella Mia

The man doesn't want to get married - PERIOD!! He's like leasing a car, he get's a new girlfriend every few years. Let the man be. Obviously he's happy the way he is and doesn't want kids.

Friday 20 August

By janet

you are so right Bella, he is very honest with the way he lives his life, he seems to be honest from the beginning of his relationships, when he gets bored he gets out and on to the next one. She will lose him quick if she keeps acting like he will marry her cuz she is so special. I dont think he is gay because he wont settle down with one woman. Atleast he is not married and a cheater.

need I say more ...but rock hudson....good looking ...always with a woman....leading man kissing woman ....Gay....its okay...live with it.....

By Janet

Clooney was married to Talia Balsum. He's been their done that. Clooney is no fool. He's not getting married. Cheaper to stay single if your not already married. He makes his money in the US, lives in Italy for tax reasons. Clooney still has his cake and eat it too. Why change it?

By CiCi217

I bet she's spent 1/2 his fortune in her mind many many times over LOL He'll need to keep her around for the latest movie opening events.

By Who cares

He would get more people to see his film if he broke up with her . Tired of hearing about celebs love lifes .I like reading about the good they do for the world . I love his charity work . His love life I have no interest in . I met him he was super nice . I don't think he's gay . People should let him do what he wants . If he wants to be married single or engaged it's his buisness . He adds a lot to the world and inspires kindness in others . Hope he is happy . He is cool .

By Jean Bopin

Dear Pa,
I thought we had a date.
Ma

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By Yeah, Well

Honestly, "He's good looking and he hasn't married any of his recent girlfriends, so he must be gay" is a really bad piece of logic. There are plenty of single straight people, myself included, who are serial monogamists. For whatever reason, they choose not to wed. Widen your minds, people.

By Writ

Who cares. Clooney is getting older and sooner than later the next stud will replace him and no one will remember or even care about whether he marries or not.

Like Warren Beatty (who was once a notorious womanizer, now hardly heard about), Clooney will get old and then marry or face life as a lonely veteran actor.

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