George Clooney Testifies, Italian Court Swoons

It's no wonder the Italian businessmen claimed George Clooney was behind their fashion line—the actor knows how to wow an audience whether he's on the red carpet or the witness stand. Maintaining his trademark aura of cool, Clooney delivered a few wisecracks today in Milan as he testified against three defendants accused of co-opting his name. The appearance of the star, who maintains a villa on nearby Lake Como but is rarely seen here in public, sent the normally staid courthouse into a frenzy.

Throngs of fans packed the tiny courtroom. The actor addressed the court through an interpreter, throwing in occasional words in Italian and apologizing for his lack of fluency. Examining photos, Clooney explained why he was not the man in one picture. "Here, for instance. I don't smoke and I don't wear that watch," Clooney said. Then after a pause he added, "I also don't wear long jean shorts."