Actor Sean Penn has threatened to destroy his Best Actor Oscar trophy if Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not invited to the 2022 Oscars. Penn is currently filming a documentary about the Russia-Ukraine issue in Europe.
If the organizers of the 2022 Oscars decide not to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the award ceremony this Sunday night, actor Sean Penn has promised to ‘publicly smelt’ his Academy Award medal. The actor has won Best Actor twice for Milk and Mystic River. He is deeply committed to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, having recently visited Ukraine in the midst of the conflict.
President Zelenskyy famously asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, to allow him to speak at the ceremony in order to stir up international sympathy for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
As per Hollywood Reporter, however, there are rumors that he may be denied access to the stage. On the night of Sunday, March 27, the 2022 Oscars will be held in Los Angeles.
Speaking to CNN, Sean said, “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.”
Sean said that he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. “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,” he added.
After crossing the Ukrainian border on foot, the actor is currently in Poland. He’s now filming a documentary about the ongoing conflict in Europe. During his visit to Ukraine, he visited Zelenskyy and even attended a recent government press briefing. On Instagram, the actor had already shared a video from the meeting.
He captioned it, “The more people know about the war in Ukraine, the higher the likelihood of stopping Russia!” He has since deleted the video.
Sean is widely recognized as one of the best actors of his time, having received countless awards in addition to his two Academy Awards. He is also noted for his involvement in humanitarian and political causes in addition to his on-screen work. He had previously spoken with the Presidents of Cuba and Venezuela and was praised for his work in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
