George Clooney has spoken out about his encounter with actor Fabio in a Los Angeles last year.

The pair reportedly exchanged fighting talk at eatery Madeo in November, when Fabio says he was forced to take action after George called his female dining companion "a fat cow".

The Michael Clayton star reveals that he’s relieved the altercation didn’t erupt into a physical fight, because he's convinced the professional beefcake would have beaten him up.

George tells American Esquire magazine: "He's a big guy. There is a moment when you are actually in the argument and you're thinking, 'If I do get beaten down by Fabio, that will be far worse than the pain. I wouldn't shake that.

The actor also responds to news that a Web site is calling him "gay, gay, gay," by joking, "No, I'm gay, gay. The third gay – that was pushing it."