George Clooney: "Not Gay," Says Friend

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George Clooney Not Gay: 'Duh,' Say Women Everywhere

On the heels of George Clooney's latest relationship breakup, a pal of the Oscar winner seems to feel it's necessary to tell the public his famous friend isn't gay.

The MailOnline.com, the Website of U.K. newspaper The Daily Mail, reports that Italian businessman Manuele Malenotti, the guy who introduced Clooney to recent ex-girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, told an Italian magazine that Clooney is not gay, and that his breakup with Canalis was the result of Clooney's oft-repeated vow never to remarry or have children.

Malenotti apparently gave the interview to Chi magazine in response to rumors in Italy that Clooney and Malenotti had conspired to arrange the relationship with Italian model and TV spokesperson Canalis as a publicity stunt to prove Clooney isn't gay.

READ MORE: George Clooney and Elisabetta Were On-Off, Says Source

"All I can say is that George, when it comes to love, has decided that he is not going to get married again and he is not going to have any children and he won’t change his mind," Malenotti said in Chi. "To suggest it was a publicity stunt is a lie. I introduced them, I saw them together, and I can say that their love story was very intense. In two years they shared numerous moments. He opened the doors of his life to her, introducing her to his friends and family. I totally exclude that it was all made up."

Clooney, who was married from 1989-1993 to actress (and current Mrs. John Slattery onscreen and off - she plays Mona to Slattery's Roger Sterling on Mad Men) Talia Shire, has famously, and repeatedly, said that he will never remarry. That has meant several high profile romances have come and gone in the actor/director/producer's life, including relationships with actresses Krista Allen, Karen Duffy and (allegedly) Renee Zellweger, French law student Celine Balitran, British model Lisa Snowdon and Las Vegas waitress Sarah Larson.

Adds Malenotti: "I can also tell you that I have known George for ten years, I have spent a lot of time with him and a lot of women have passed through his life. You never know in life, and men are having an identity crisis, but I can tell you George is not gay."

Meanwhile, lest any of us feel too sorry for Canalis after the breakup of her two-year run with Clooney, People.com reports she's drowning her sorrows by going sailing with another ex-boyfriend.

Tan and laughing in a teeny white bikini, Canalis was photographed last week hanging out with her 2007 fling Angelo Vita, apparently revealing that her philosophy is that the way to get over one ex is to hang out with another ex.

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