George Clooney has revealed he spent years resenting Brad Pitt after losing his career-defining role of JD. Thelma and Louise, The part that made Pitt Hollywood’s newest heartthrob in 1991.

Speaking in a recent interview with many timesClooney recalled that the part had slipped through his fingers before attending the final audition. “I reached the final test for a role Thelma and LouiseAnd, Mom, Brad’s got it,” he joked, though the sting was very real at the time,

At the time, Clooney was largely seen as a television actor, while Pitt was not yet a household name. But the movie, and especially the now-iconic shirtless scene, changed everything. “I did not see Thelma and Louise For years, because I was angry,” Clooney admitted.

“I didn’t watch ‘Thelma & Louise’ for years because I was angry. This role launched his career in film. He was doing sitcoms and shit before, so this was the thing that could launch me? F****r,” the 64-year-old Oscar winner admitted.

Actor Adam Sandler, who recently worked with Clooney, confirmed the audience’s reaction to Pitt’s breakout moment. “When Brad took off his shirt, people went crazy,” he said. Geena Davis, who played Thelma, remembers the final round of auditions and how amazing Pitt was. She revealed, “He’s so charismatic and incredibly talented that I forgot my lines.” Her response to the producers later was simple: “The blonde one!”

Years later, Clooney teased Davis about that day. “Finally he said, ‘You know I hate Brad Pitt.’ And I said, ‘No, you don’t – he’s your friend.’ And he said, ‘No, I hate him because he got this role.’ Davis admitted that she did not remember Clooney’s audition “at all”, due to her fear of faking it.

However, the rivalry did not last. Clooney and Pitt became one of Hollywood’s most memorable on-screen partnerships ocean’s eleven Franchise and remain close friends.