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Why Amal Clooney was at Cannes with U2 and not George Clooney

Amal represented herself and George in France

The Edge, Amal Clooney and Bono attend the "Bono: Stories Of Surrender" red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2025 in Cannes, France

MAY 19, 2025 8:54 PM EDTMAY 19, 2025, 8:54 PM EDT

Cannes Film Festival is underway, and the stars are in France, previewing new films from around the world. The exclusive invite-only festival isn’t just about movies; the red carpet is where some of the biggest entrances and fashion moments go down.

Saturday saw the screening of Bono: Stories of Surrender, which is about the U2 frontman’s story. In attendance was Bono, who had the support of friends, one of those being the beautiful Amal Clooney. He posed with his U2 bandmate, The Edge, and Amal on the red carpet, and she looked ready to join the band.

Owning her star power without her husband, George Clooney, she looked like a bona fide A-lister. Her solo appearance with U2 was head-turning for some, but they’ve been friends for years. Bono was at their wedding in Venice in 2014, they’ve celebrated birthdays together, and in 2019, the Clooneys spent easter with Bono in Dublin.

The trio looked amazing in all black looks

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Amal and Bono have a lot in common and share a passion for human rights and activism. She’s a world-renowned international human rights lawyer, and he’s spent decades fighting poverty, AIDS, and injustice through his work with organizations like ONE and RED.

As for why George wasn’t there supporting his friend, he's a little busy being a Broadway star. The Oscar award winner is currently starring in Good Night, and Good Luck, which shows pretty much every day of the week. So Amal was representing them both, and she did an incredible job.

Amal Clooney attends the "Bono: Stories Of Surrender" red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2025 in Cannes, France. — Amal Clooney held her own without George, looking like a star in her own right

Amal looked amazing with her long signature hair flowing in an elegant style by hair stylist Dimitris Giannetos. She had eye-catching makeup and arrived in a black archival off‑the‑shoulder John Galliano gown for Christian Dior.

The dress was beautiful, but Amal technically broke the rules by wearing it. The festival announced new guidelines for 2025, which included no trains. Luckily for Amal, it looks like they decided not to argue with a lawyer about it, and she got to wear it.

It marks her return to the famous festival since 2016, when she arrived with George for Money Monster.

George and Amal Clooney arrive for the screening of the film "Money Monster" at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, 2016