Hollywood veteran Sean Penn has stirred controversy with his recent candid interview with Variety, where he expressed his thoughts on Will Smith’s highly publicized slap of comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars. Penn, known for his outspoken nature, didn’t hold back as he compared Smith’s actions to his own past encounters with violence and raised questions about the differing consequences.
The Variety interview began on a diplomatic note as Penn acknowledged his limited interaction with Will Smith, describing him as ‘very nice’ and praising his performance in ‘King Richard.’ However, the tone shifted abruptly as Penn delved into his criticism of Smith’s actions at the Oscars.
‘Why did you spit on yourself and everybody else?’ Penn questioned, not mincing words. He continued, ‘Why did I go to jail for what you just did? And you’re still celebrated?’
Sean Penn has a history of courting controversy. In 1987, at the age of 26, he spent 33 days in jail for assaulting an extra during the filming of ‘Colors.’ More recently, he faced legal consequences for an altercation with a paparazzo, resulting in probation and community service. Penn’s past encounters with the law served as a backdrop for his critique of Smith’s treatment.
In contrast to his outburst at the Oscars, Will Smith followed up with a Best Actor acceptance speech and a subsequent apologetic video message, acknowledging that his behavior was unacceptable. Smith also took the unprecedented step of resigning from the Academy and receiving a 10-year event ban.
Oscar producer Will Packer revealed that Smith could have faced arrest at the Oscars if Chris Rock had chosen to press charges. However, Rock opted not to pursue legal action.
Penn didn’t reserve his criticism solely for Will Smith; he also took aim at the Oscars producers for not providing a platform for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He expressed his belief that if Zelenskyy had been given a moment to speak, ‘Will Smith would never have left that chair.’
In a surprising revelation, Sean Penn shared a personal connection to Ukraine’s plight. He disclosed that he had gifted his Oscar trophies to Zelenskyy, suggesting that they could be melted down into bullets against the Russians.
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