Sean Penn Outraged Over Oscars’ Choices, Slapping Incident, and Zelenskyy Snub
When it comes to the grandest events in Hollywood, the Academy Awards, or Oscars, have a reputation for shining a light on the film industry’s greatest achievements. Yet, the 2022 Oscars saw a new kind of spotlight, one which Sean Penn vehemently condemned.
Penn’s Strong Words on the Will Smith-Chris Rock Altercation
The dramatic confrontation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars didn’t escape Penn’s notice. Expressing his disbelief, Penn shared with Variety, “[Will Smith] was so f—ing good in ‘King Richard.’ So why the f— did you just spit on yourself and everybody else with this stupid f—ing thing?”
What heightened Penn’s outrage was not just the incident itself, but the subsequent reaction from the attendees. “Why are you guys standing and applauding his worst moment as a person?” the 63-year-old actor remarked. Penn drew a parallel to his own 1987 jail stint, which resulted from him punching a film extra. He seemed to question the apparent double standards in play.
The Controversy Behind the Slap
The root of the incident was a jest Chris Rock made regarding Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, a result of her battle with alopecia. In defense of his wife, Will Smith impulsively stormed the stage, landing a slap on Rock’s face, accompanied by a heated command, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth!”
Despite the tumultuous energy this brought to the Oscars, Penn believed a significant figure’s presence might’ve changed the atmosphere altogether.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy – The Missed Opportunity
Penn didn’t mince words when expressing his disappointment over Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, not being given a platform at the Oscars. According to Penn, Zelenskyy was deemed “not light-hearted enough” by the event’s organizers.
“This f—ing bulls— wouldn’t have happened with Zelenskyy,” Penn asserted. “Will Smith would never have left that chair to be part of stupid violence.”
The actor-director’s alignment with Ukraine and its ongoing conflict with Russia is palpable. Distraught by the Oscars’ decisions, Penn contemplated a symbolic gesture—melting down his two Oscars into bullets as a stand against Russia. His solidarity with Ukraine was previously showcased when he donated one of his Oscars to Zelenskyy, a gesture that earned him the Order of Merit by the Ukrainian leader.
In Conclusion
Sean Penn’s reaction to the infamous slap incident goes beyond the event itself. It’s a critique on the choices made by the industry, and a heartfelt plea for recognizing real-world issues over fleeting dramatic moments. The 2022 Oscars will be remembered for many reasons, and Penn has ensured that the absence of Zelenskyy’s voice and the prioritization of controversy over global concerns will be among them.
Source: Foxnews
