Real reason Sean Penn wasn't at Oscars despite winning third academy award

The real reason why Sean Penn wasn't at the Oscars ceremony despite winning an award has been revealed.

Considering the academy awards are the perhaps the biggest night in the film industry, it's always a surprise when the top dogs in Hollywood don't show up.

Although some actors are reportedly banned, including Will Smith after his infamous altercation with Chris Rock, and Richard Gere for his comments about China and TIbet, it's a rare occurrence when someone who is nominated simply doesn't show up.

So there was certainly some confusion last night at the Dolby Theatre when American actor and filmmaker Penn wasn't anywhere to be seen, despite his nomination for best supporting actor in a film.

And it was even more awkward when he was announced as the winner by fellow winner Kieran Culkin, who joked: “Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening or didn't want to, so I'll be accepting the award on his behalf.”

Penn plays Steven J Lockjaw in One Battle After Another, a racist and ruthless villain who is in the military and wants to join a white supremacist club, while also being attracted to black women.

He beat Stellan Skarsgard (Sentimental Value), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners) and Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another) to the award.

It's still not entirely clear why he didn't show last night but according to the New York Times, he was en route to Ukraine, although sources would not confirm exactly what he was doing there.

This was Penn's sixth nomination and third Oscars win, so perhaps he simply isn't too bothered about adding to his collection, particularly after telling president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he should melt down one of his awards for bullets.

He seemed pretty intent on destroying his Oscars, telling Variety: “I thought, well, f**k, you know? I’ll give them to Ukraine. They can be melted down to bullets they can shoot at the Russians.”

Penn clearly isn't a huge fan of the Academy Awards, after he claims that they refused him the opportunity to speak about Ukraine back in 2023, saying: “The Oscars producer thought, ‘Oh, he’s not light-hearted enough.’ Well, guess what you got instead? Will Smith!”

Sean Penn becomes fourth male actor to win three #Oscars after taking the prize for best supporting actor. Presenter Kieran Culkin joked: “Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening or didn't want to, so I'll be accepting the award on his behalf.”

Penn joins Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack… pic.twitter.com/JfVKeU1LWG

— Variety (@Variety) March 16, 2026

And in 2024, he also accused them of 'extraordinary cowardice when it comes to being part of the bigger world of expression, and in fact, have largely been part of limiting the imagination and very limiting of different cultural expressions'.

Penn's victory was just one of six Oscars won by One Battle After Another, with Sinners another big winner at last night's show, while Marty Supreme and The Secret Agent were snubbed entirely.