Comedian Adam Sandler, a man famously devoted to comfort over couture, has been sporting a surprisingly polished look on the press tour for his new film. The reason? He claims his co-star, George Clooney, has been gently pressuring him into wearing suits.
Sandler, known for his signature relaxed attire of hoodies, basketball shorts, and vibrant Hawaiian shirts, appeared at a recent Los Angeles premiere in a sharp navy suit. When asked about the uncharacteristic formality, Sandler humorously placed the credit—or blame—squarely on Clooney’s shoulders.
“I’m doing this for his sake, because I like Clooney,” Sandler explained. “He’s a very nice man, and when I show up looking the way I normally like to, he looks so genuinely hurt. I just said, ‘Alright, let me throw a suit on.’”
The actor’s usual disregard for fashion norms was on full display earlier this year at a major awards ceremony, where he attended in a hoodie and athletic shorts, drawing playful criticism for looking more ready for a late-night gaming session than a black-tie event. Sandler has previously defended his comfortable choices, stating he prioritizes feeling like a “good person” over wearing “snazzy” attire.
For the recent premiere, Sandler also found himself accidentally coordinating his suit with the navy dress worn by his wife of over two decades, Jackie, which he attributed to simple luck. “She knows that stuff,” he said of his wife’s style sense. “I kinda just land in this stuff and try to get the right color socks on.”
The film at the center of this sartorial shift, Jay Kelly, is an upcoming Netflix comedy directed by Noah Baumbach. Clooney stars as a famous actor, with Sandler playing his loyal manager. The project is already generating awards season buzz and is scheduled for a limited theatrical release next month before streaming in December.
For now, it appears Clooney’s influence is confined to the current promotional circuit. Whether the comedian’s suitcase will contain more suits after the press tour ends remains to be seen.
