Sean Penn said he felt relief and excitement while watching the 98th Academy Awards on television after choosing to skip the event. The three-time Oscar winner explained that the ceremony has long caused him social discomfort. He scheduled a trip to Ukraine instead of attending.
Penn won Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another but did not collect the award in person. He told an audience at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday that he avoids groups larger than eight people. The actor said the decision allowed him to enjoy the show for the first time. He previously won Oscars for Mystic River in 2003 and Milk in 2008. Penn also discussed giving one of his Oscars to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy later described him as a true friend of Ukraine.
