- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Sean Penn Skips Oscars to Focus on Ukraine
The actor was honored but chose to visit Ukraine instead of attending the ceremony.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:48am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Sean Penn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 98th Academy Awards for his role in "One Battle After Another", but he was not present to accept the award. Reports suggest Penn's decision to skip the ceremony was politically motivated, as he had plans to visit Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia. Penn had previously warned he would boycott the Oscars if the ceremony prevented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from speaking.
Why it matters
Sean Penn's absence from the Oscars highlights his continued advocacy for Ukraine and his willingness to forgo personal accolades to draw attention to the war. Penn has a history of using his platform to speak out on social justice issues, and his decision to prioritize Ukraine over the awards ceremony reflects his commitment to using his influence to support the country.
The details
Despite being honored with the prestigious award, Penn was not present at the Oscars ceremony on March 15. Reports suggest he was in Europe and had plans to visit Ukraine, continuing his efforts to support the country following Russia's invasion. Penn had previously warned he would boycott the Oscars if the ceremony prevented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from giving a speech, and it appears the Academy's decision not to allow Zelenskyy to address the audience influenced Penn's decision to skip the event.
- Sean Penn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor on March 15, 2026.
- Penn had previously warned he would boycott the Oscars if the ceremony prevented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from speaking.
The players
Sean Penn
An American actor who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "One Battle After Another".
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The President of Ukraine, who Penn had hoped would be allowed to speak at the Oscars ceremony.
Kieran Culkin
The presenter who accepted the Oscar on Penn's behalf.
What they’re saying
“Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening, or didn't want to, so I'll be accepting this award on his behalf.”
— Kieran Culkin, Presenter
“I would encourage everyone involved to know, though it may be their moment, and I understand that, to celebrate their films, it is so much more 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 Penn
“I told him to keep it and bring it to Malibu after all this is over and his country is safe.”
— Sean Penn
What’s next
It is unclear if Sean Penn will return his Oscar statuette to the Academy or continue to use it to support Ukraine.
The takeaway
Sean Penn's decision to skip the Oscars and focus on supporting Ukraine during the ongoing war reflects his long-standing commitment to using his platform for social and political advocacy. His actions underscore the power of celebrity to draw attention to important global issues.
