George Clooney: Like a father to his ex

Usually, scorned arm candy whose contract has been suddenly and surprisingly terminated, say terrible things about their exes. Elisabetta Canalis went the other way and ended up painting a really weird picture.

People has this: "Elisabetta Canalis, the Italian TV personality who dated George Clooney for two years until their split last June, offers some surprising details about their relationship in Questo Amore (This Love), a new book by Italian journalist Bruno Vespa. Praising the Oscar winner, 50, as "the person who valued my feminine side the most" and "also one of the best people I have met from a charitable point of view," NO IDEA WHAT EITHER OF THOSE STATEMENTS MEAN, BUT PERHAPS SOMETHING - CLARITY? UN-CREEPINESS? - WAS LOST IN TRANSLATION Canalis, 33, went on to say, "he has been a special for me, and very important, just as a father would be." SO HE TOOK YOU TO THE ZOO? TAUGHT YOU HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE? HELPED WITH HOMEWORK? Asked by Vespa to elaborate, she said, "between us there was more of a father-daughter relationship. I was unable to clarify this up 'til now." BECAUSE IT ONLY NOW OCCURRED TO YOU THAT THE WHOLE 'MONTHLY ALLOWANCE' THING WAS A LITTLE ODD? As for their breakup, Canalis – who competed on Dancing with the Stars earlier this season, denies reports that Clooney's long-held aversion to marriage was an issue. "George and I never spoke of marriage nor of having kids," she says. "I don't put limits to the possibility of having them, but neither George nor I had ever envisaged having kids together. The end of the relationship was not caused by a marriage issue, but instead by our personal needs." NAMELY, GEORGE'S NEED TO SEND YOU PACKING Although Clooney has since moved on with another Dancing alum, Stacy Keibler, Canalis has only kind words for him. "George is a real gentleman even in his private life," she says. "I was very much respected both as a woman and partner."