Sean Penn was noticeably absent at the 98th Academy Awards held in March, where he won his third Oscar. In a recent conversation at the Tribeca Festival, the actor opened up about why he was absent from the prestigious ceremony and why he most likely won’t be attending one in the future.
During the candid discussion, the actor also touched on his well-known dislike of taking selfies, a stance he has maintained for years. His comments provide a glimpse into his low-key approach to fame and public appearances.
At the 2026 Tribeca Festival’s “Storytellers” series, Sean Penn talked to moderator Kaitlan Collins about his decades-long career. At one point, Penn addressed his absence from the 2026 Oscars, telling Collins and the audience that he deliberately missed the ceremony because it “always represented social discomfort to me.”
Penn spoke with his “One Battle After Another” co-stars prior to the Oscars and told them he wouldn’t be attending. They understood his refusal, citing it was best for his mental health. The actor flew to Ukraine instead to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and support the country’s war efforts.
Penn further explained that he missed the Oscars not just because it was an awards show. He would also feel the same in any setting with large crowds. “Too many people. I’m now down, committed for life, that I won’t go anywhere to be in a designated group beyond eight people,” he said, adding that large gatherings were “dread-provoking” and gave him “anxiety.”
The Actor Attended The Golden Globes
Penn said attending the Golden Globes in January 2026 cemented his decision to no longer attend those types of affairs. “I went to the Golden Globes. I’d never been to that before. And that’s where I decided, ‘I can’t do this,’” he said, saying that he felt relieved when he decided not to go to the Oscars.
The actor made headlines at the Golden Globes after he was reportedly warned to stop smoking at the event. As The Blast previously reported, Penn was repeatedly approached by event staff to put out his cigarette, but he refused to comply.
Sean Penn Reaffirms His Hatred Of Selfies
Apart from large crowds, Penn also discussed his aversion toward selfies, telling Collings he refused to do it, no matter who the fan is.
“People should not do selfies ever with anyone. It’s bad for you. It’s bad for everyone. It’s a soul-sucker. It’s the Holocaust grandmother and her 6-year-old paraplegic wheeling over? It’s a hard no,” Penn firmly said.
His stance goes way back, and also extends to fans and paparazzi taking photos of him in public. In 2009, he kicked a paparazzo and damaged his camera equipment, which resulted in a misdemeanor charge. He pleaded no contest to the charges and was ordered to attend anger management classes and do community service. In 2013, he had an outburst over a fan taking his photo, and he was caught on video screaming, “Do we look like f-cking zoo animals? I’ll make you eat your phone!”
The Actor Has Mellowed Over The Years
Penn has had a long-standing reputation as a hothead. In June 1987, the actor was sentenced to 60 days in jail and ordered to pay a fine of $240. On the set of the movie “Colors,” Penn repeatedly punched an extra who was taking photographs of him. He also had a reckless driving charge. The actor ended up spending 33 days in jail.
In February that same year, Penn was given a one-year probation and fined $1,700 for assaulting songwriter David Wolinski, whom he assumed was attempting to kiss his then-wife, Madonna.
During his conversation with Collins, Penn shared that he has learned to walk away from confrontations. “I haven’t had a yelling match with anyone in four years. I have not listened to anyone yell for more than two seconds before I walk away,” he shared.
Sean Penn Enjoyed The Oscars From Far Away
While he didn’t attend the Oscars in March, Penn said he still made time to watch it despite its 2 a.m. airing in Ukraine.
Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in “One Battle After Another,” and his award was accepted by Kieran Culkin on his behalf. His recent win marks his third Oscar, following his previous Best Actor victories for “Mystic River” in 2004 and “Milk” in 2009.
“I really got to enjoy the Academy Awards for the first time. It was great,” Penn said of his decision to watch from afar.
