ABC
Sean Penn loves and supports Ukraine, this much we know. He supports Ukraine so much, though, that he bailed on the Academy Awards — where he took home his third Oscar — to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, last year’s Best Supporting Actor winner Kieran Culkin was tasked with presenting and then accepting the award for Sean Penn, which he did with his trademark Culkin snide.
“Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening…or didn’t want to…so I’ll be accepting this award on his behalf,” Culkin said.
when i’m in an idgaf competition and my opponet is kieran culkin pic.twitter.com/qz93zUHyjC
— rocky (@WAYSTIAR) March 16, 2026
Penn’s win also prompted a viral reaction from veteran actor Delroy Lindo, who didn’t even bother to applaud Penn’s win.
delroy didnt even clap 😭😭 https://t.co/xmDm51vwqM
— doctor idk (@bigmonkeong) March 16, 2026
Sean Penn was not in attendance at the Academy Awards because he was instead meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
On Monday, it was revealed that Penn missed out on the 90th Academy Awards ceremony to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who shared a photo of the meeting on social media.
“Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is. You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today. And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people,” the Ukrainian leader posted on social media.
Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is.
You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war.
This is still true today.
And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people. pic.twitter.com/wGneO1rqJI— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 16, 2026
Penn taking home the prize for Best Supporting Actor was one of six wins for One Battle After Another, which also won Best Casting, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.