George Clooney Congratulates Sexiest Man Alive Ryan Reynolds

"I'm very happy for him," says Clooney, joking that he's also happy it's not Brad Pitt

Photo: Reuters/Landov; Splash News Online

George Clooney was pleased to hear Ryan Reynolds is PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive this year – or perhaps more accurately, he’s relieved it isn’t someone else.

“I’m very happy for him,” Clooney said graciously at a humanitarian awards dinner in New York on Wednesday. He then added, jokingly: “I’m also happy that it’s not Brad [Pitt].”

Clooney and Pitt are both multiple winners of the award – the former in 1997 and 2006, the latter in 1995 and 2000.

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Clooney, 49, who is active in humanitarian causes, was on hand at Chelsea Piers to accept a different honor: the Ripple of Hope Award at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights awards dinner.

“It’s really a lovely thing,” the Oscar winner said of the recognition. “I feel over-honored, but I’m happy to be able to do it to bring attention to a lot of other people here.”

It was a family affair, as Clooney was accompanied by his father, Nick Clooney, as well as his girlfriend, Italian TV host Elisabetta Canalis, 32.

Given the actor’s popularity and interest in politics, running for president wouldn’t seem out of the question. Asked why he hasn’t yet, Clooney joked, “Because I don’t have the ties for it.”

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