Sean Penn skipped Oscars to pal around with BFF Zelenskyy in Ukraine

Actor and filmmaker Sean Penn had better places to be than the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday.

Rather than attend the Oscars with his Hollywood peers, Penn opted to spend time with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the country endures the ongoing war with Russia. Penn and Zelenskyy have long touted their friendship, with the actor using his celebrity pull to advance Ukraine’s interests.

The president posted about the meeting on X:

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

“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,” Zelenskyy wrote.

But his absence at the award show was noticed, with actor Kieran Culkin cracking a joke while accepting an award on Penn’s behalf for best supporting actor for his performance in “One Battle After Another.”

Watch:

lol at Kieran Culkin’s unscripted joke about no-show Sean Penn after he won Supporting Actor (his THIRD Oscar)

“Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening…or didn’t want to…so I’ll be accepting this award on his behalf.” pic.twitter.com/L2BcB2deAq

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 16, 2026

X users reacted to Penn’s absence:

As he should! He is where things that matter happen, not the performative activism that has gripped Hollywood

— Icy Toes ⛸️ (@IcyToes4) March 17, 2026

The fact that he won makes it even more iconic.

— shyam (@shyamsundar21) March 16, 2026

Prefer to hear anything Kieran Culkin says over Sean Penn. This was a gift to the world

— Justin Koneck (@JustinKoneck) March 16, 2026

Sean penn was literally the worst thing about an otherwise great movie. what a travesty and joke.

— istn4u (@quickhans) March 16, 2026

I’m sure this was the ONLY day this meeting could take place. Totally authentic

— Big Lou (@BigLou617) March 16, 2026

Prob would’ve been more helpful to speak about the situation in Ukraine in his acceptance speech than to fly out and hang out with him instead but what do I know

— Mountain Lover🏞️ (@seminoleraider) March 16, 2026

Well to be honest since he already won best actor years ago it’s not really necessary for him to show up for a downgraded (but merited) award.

— The Tweetest Tweet (@25TweetestThe) March 16, 2026

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