Sean Penn vows he'll never attend another awards ceremony

Speaking with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at the Tribeca Film Festival, Sean Penn, 65, said he will never attend another awards ceremony and confirmed he skipped the 2026 Oscars. He described such gatherings as “social discomfort” and “dread-provoking,” saying they provoke anxiety because there are “too many people.” Penn added that the events make him feel as if he has “15 minutes per person” and that he won’t join a designated group beyond eight people.

He recalled that the two times he had gone to the Oscars he felt relief at winning because so many people had worked hard. The actor — who has Best Actor Oscars for "Mystic River" (2003) and "Milk" (2008) and won Best Supporting Actor for "One Battle After Another" — told co‑stars skipping the ceremony would be “better” for his mental health and instead travelled to Ukraine.

Ukraine

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