Sean Penn Vows To Boycott Oscars If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Isn't Invited
By: Written By Sneha Biswas
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Sean Penn Vows To Boycott Oscars If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Isn't Invited
Sean Penn came out in support of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky & stated that if he is not invited for Oscars 2022 then he will boycott the show.
Image: AP
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is currently a major global concern. It has been quite a long time that Ukraine is fighting for its land and million of Ukrainians have fled their homeland and are seeking shelter in neighbouring countries. With the war not coming to any conclusion, several Hollywood celebrities came out at the forefront and extended their support to the people of Ukraine. Amid the crisis, many celebrities are also trying to provide necessary aid to the needy by raising funds.
American film actor and director Sean Penn has always been vocal about the war and has always taken steps towards helping Ukrainian refugees as the Russian army continues to ravage the country. Recently, Sean Penn came out in support of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and stated that if the president is not invited and allowed to voice his opinion in the Oscars 2022 then he will boycott the prestigious ceremony.
Sean Penn comes out in support of Volodymyr Zelensky for his appearance at Oscars 2022
Sean Penn, the former Oscars winner, who has two statuettes of his own, recently made a bold statement that created quite a stir online. The ace filmmaker during a CNN interview show as per Just Jared threatened to smash his two Oscar statues if the 2022 event snubs Ukraine's president. Adding to this, Sean stated-
“If it turns out to be what is happening, I would encourage everyone involved, though it may be their moment, and I understand that, to celebrate their films, it is so much more importantly their moment to shine, and to protest and to boycott that Academy Awards. I myself, if it comes back to it, when I return, I will smelt mine in public”
He further continued-
“I pray that’s not what happened. I pray there have not been arrogant people who consider themselves representatives of the greater good who have decided not to check in with leadership in Ukraine. So I’m going to hope that’s not what happened, and I hope everyone walks out if it is.”
Actor Sean Penn meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Earlier Sean Penn met the president. Speaking to Anderson Cooper from CNN in his first interview since his return from Ukraine, Sean Penn opened up about his experience meeting the Ukrainian President. He mentioned that although he was 'endlessly impressed' by Zelensky, he was also 'terrified' for him and the country.
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Does anyone else think that maybe Sean Penn is being somewhat extreme?
I understand his point------------------but. You know. Weapons. Weapons and more weapons.
He's a passionate dude, so obviously this means a lot to him.
He was in Ukraine at the time of the invasion... so I am sure it had a big impact on him.
I think Zelensky has more urgent concerns than the Oscars. Penn's boycott is silly and I doubt anyone cares.
I would suggest Penn use his celebrity to continue to drum up support for Ukraine and not attempt to force the hand of others (especially when the forced hand does nothing to help the Ukraine people).;
I agree that Zelensky has more urgent concerns than the Oscars.
I was just giving an explanation as to why Penn said what he said.
Here is what he was doing:
President Zelenskyy is kind of busy, Sean. He needs food, medical supplies, weapons, basic human needs, weapons, more weapons, food, medical supplies, weapons and more weapons. There is war going on and I doubt he will be watching the damn Oscars.
Show up Sean. Use your couple of minutes to state your case. That is all you can do. So------just do it.
That's the right thing to do.
I think it was fine for Sean Penn to advocate for Zelensky speaking to the Oscar tv audience.
I dont think he should have threatened consequences if it didnt happen though.
I may not agree with many of Sean's positions but he does put his money where his mouth is as does his charity. He was one of the very first to help the Navajo nation when it was being devastated by the pandemic and he was there in person as he was in Ukraine.
He was in Ukraine making a documentary when the Russians invaded.
For many years, as a lover of "The Movies", I was able to watch and enjoy the Oscars broadcasts - moments stand out: host Bob Hope's humour, Sophia Loren shouting "ROBERTO" and seeing him climb up on the seat backs, host Billy Crystal entering wearing the Silence of the Lambs mask, Denzell Washington paying homage to his hero Sidney Poitier, the introducing of Keisha Castle-Hughes (the 13 year old whale rider girl) to her dream boat, Johnny Depp - so many great moments. But now the Oscars broadcast is meaningless to me not just because it will most likely not be seen here, but because I don't get to see any of the movies involved for about three years due to copyright rules being followed here for TV broadcasting. I do not go to movie theatres here to see first run movies. The only time I did in my more than 15 years here was because I was invited by one of my students to accompany him to the third Hobbit movie in a 4-D theatre, but I wasn't thrilled by having my back punched, my seat jiggled and my face sprayed.
A lot of people in America dont see the movies until long after they're first run as well Buzz. I would say most people see the movies quite a bit later than their initial release.
How awkward would that be? Let’s take 60 seconds to forget about everything this gala is about to welcome the most courageous leader of these times and hear about what it means to have real life and death problems … and then go right back to American pettiness and snobbery.
I did say something kind of similar. That there they all are having fun and not worrying about bombs or where they will get their next meal.
And Ukraine also had all of that until Putin..................attacked without provocation.
It seems that the Oscars are trying to match Ukraine for violence.
Although it was an unflattering joke, it was a joke. Will Smith was way out of line.
They should have boo’d that whiny little bitch off the stage. Unbelievable.
Comedians have been joking about the stars in the audience at the Oscars for 90 years. Im sure there have far bigger "insults" than the one tonight too. Will Smith was trippin.
Au contraire, I think Chris Rock was way out of line.
He made a joke about Will Smith's wife being basically bald. Which she is. News reports say she has a condition that causes her to lose her hair (not cancer). Whether Chris Rock was aware of that I dont know. It was still a joke. Will Smith lost his cool in front of the audience watching the Oscars on tv. He ended up in tears later in the show as he apologized. Was it worth it?
Comedians have been cracking jokes at people for years. What I just found out and Chris Rock probably didn't know is that Pinkett has alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes your hair to fall out. I'm sure that didn't sit well with them and understandably so.
That being said, you don't haul off in an awards show and assault a person on stage. You pull them aside later and talk to him. Smith looked like an ass.
John, just after I posted my comment I thought about it and realized that you were right about the hosts joking with the celebrities in the audience, and I remembered a situation where the host was joking with Jack Nicholson sitting in the audience (was it Billy Crystal?) and it was hilarious - Jack was taking it as it was meant to be taken and was laughing. So I tried to delete my comment that Chris Rock was way out of line and my computer refused to comply with my wishes. I changed browsers and couldn't open the site. Then I finally got through here and saw your reply to me and realized it was too late to delete - so thank you, technology, for making a fool out of me. However, I can also understand Will Smith's sensitivity about the issue if in fact his wife has a medical condition about her hair. I wonder how Marlee Matlin would feel if a host were to make a "joke" about her disability?
Buzz,
A. I don't think that either John or I was trying to make you look like a fool. Just a difference of opinion.
B. Chris Rock didn't know she has alopecia as I am sure most people didn't know.
C. You would have to be living under a rock not to know Marlee Matlin was deaf. Losing your hair is upsetting but not a disability. Being deaf is a disability. Had he made a joke about that, he should have been booed off the stage. Obviously, most people didn't get it, since there was no reaction from the audience until Smith slapped Rock.
And for anyone who is interested Liza is recovering from encephalitis.
She’s obviously comfortable with her looks, otherwise she’d be wearing a wig. Chris Rock should tell him to take his apology and shove it up his entitled ass.
Oh, I totally agree.
I think so.
Defending one's wife is a traditional value, so I'm sure the left is against what Smith did.
LOL. Smith got a standing ovation when he was announced as Best Actor, which occurred after the slapping incident.
I guess that's why Ted Cruz lost ...
Will Smith standing up for his woman is being celebrated by many today.
Ted Cruz comes to mind. Remember that?
Not the first time Chris Rock has rattled the Hollywood hierarchy. I recall one moment when he managed to dis Jude Law as not being worthy of blockbuster roles and got himself verbally blasted on stage by Sean Penn.
Chris Rock is a has been, but that doesnt excuse Will Smith.
Today we’re told men are toxically masculine, women don’t need men generally, and of course - women can be men. Therefore, we know the verdict.