George Clooney: Mail Online 'fabricated' fiance story

Film star George Clooney has accused the Mail Online website of publishing a "completely fabricated story" about his fiance's mother opposing their forthcoming marriage for religious reasons.

Writing in the USA Today newspaper, the Gravity star said he seldom responded to tabloid stories but he had felt compelled to respond because, "it involves someone else and their safety or well being."

He said the article claimed that human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin's mother had been telling "half of Beirut" that was she against their upcoming nuptials.

"It says they joke about traditions in the Druze religion that end up with the death of the bride," he wrote. "Let me repeat that: the death of the bride."

He said: "First of all, none of the story is factually true. Amal's mother is not Druze. She has not been to Beirut since Amal and I have been dating, and she is in no way against the marriage - but none of that is the issue.

The Ocean's 11 star added that he was used to stories being made up about him but, "this lie involves larger issues."

He added: "When they put my family and my friends in harm's way, they cross far beyond just a laughable tabloid and into the arena of inciting violence."

The Mail Online are yet to comment on Clooney's piece.