Sean Penn to Destroy his Oscar if Zelenskyy Isn’t Invited to Speak

Sean Penn has vowed to “smelt” his Oscar if the Academy Awards doesn’t let Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appear to deliver a speech during the 2022 Oscars event on Sunday.

The actor, who is currently in Warsaw, Poland, working with his non-profit organization CORE providing humanitarian aid to refugees, appeared for an interview with CNN’s Jim Acosta.

When asked about the upcoming event recognizing the war happening in Ukraine, Penn expressed his displeasure at the Academy, saying that there are some people who believe that “politics are for another place, entertainment is for another.”

Allowing an appearance from Zelenskyy could give a platform to people’s voices, and Penn added that the Ukrainian president holds “that kind of nature of poetic courage and expression that film aspires at its best to be.”

Penn added that Zelensky’s desire to appear is beside the point, but he disagrees with the association deliberately deciding not to include the President’s speech in the telecast.

If the Academy has elected not to do it, if presenters have elected not to pursue the leadership in Ukraine who are taking bullets and bombs for us, along with the Ukrainian children that they are trying to protect, then I think every single one of those people and every bit of that decision will have been the most obscene moment in all of Hollywood history.

Sean Penn

The actor further said that he hoped that wasn’t the case. However, Penn stated that if it turns out to be, he would destroy the Oscar he has previously won and urged others in the industry to boycott the event as well.

I pray that’s not what’s happened. I pray there have not been arrogant people who consider themselves representatives of the greater good in my industry that have not decided to check in with leadership in Ukraine. I’m just gonna hope that that’s not what’s happened, and I hope that everybody walks out, if it is.

Sean Penn

The Academy has not yet commented on whether Zelensky will have an appearance during the ceremony.

The Oscars are being held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will air on ABC on Sunday night.