{"id":1009773,"date":"2026-06-06T19:37:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T19:37:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1009773\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T19:37:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T19:37:27","slug":"sean-penn-branded-insufferable-after-saying-he-wont-even-take-selfies-with-holocaust-survivors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1009773\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean Penn branded ‘insufferable’ after saying he won’t even take selfies with Holocaust survivors"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Hammond
\n\t\tSean Penn has shared some choice words about those who would dare ask him for a selfie (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Sean Penn<\/a> has been met with backlash after saying that he won\u2019t do selfies for anyone \u2013 not even a \u2018Holocaust grandmother and her six-year-old paraplegic.\u2019<\/p>\n

His comments came as the One Battle After Another star <\/a>justified his decision not to attend the recent Oscars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 65-year-old won the award for best supporting actor after being nominated for his scene-stealing role as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, beating fellow nominees such as Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio.<\/p>\n

However, Penn was absent on the big day, leaving Succession<\/a> star Keiran Culkin to pick up the trophy on his behalf.<\/p>\n

In a new interview, the actor has expressed his distaste for large gatherings of people \u2013 which would include the Academy Awards \u2013 and for taking selfies in particular.<\/p>\n

And, in doing so, he\u2019s sparked the ire of internet commenters who described the example he gave as \u2018insane\u2019 and \u2018insufferable.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tPenn has set a hard \u2013 and perhaps harsh \u2013 boundary (Picture: Robin L Marshall\/WireImage)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"This
\n\t\tPenn won best supporting actor for playing racist Colonel Lockjaw (Picture: AP)<\/p>\n

Speaking to CNN anchor Katlin Collins during the Tribeca Film Festival, Penn described events like the Oscars as \u2018dread-inducing.\u2019<\/p>\n

Instead, he took a trip to Ukraine<\/a>, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to raise awareness for the ongoing conflict with Russia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018I really got to enjoy the Academy Awards for the first time. It was great,\u2019 he said\u2026 after deciding to watch the show from abroad.<\/p>\n

He went on to take particular aim at those who would ask him for a picture on such occasions, believing that \u2018people should not do selfies ever with anyone.\u2019<\/p>\n

Penn continued: \u2018It\u2019s bad for you; it\u2019s bad for everyone. It\u2019s a soul-sucker. <\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s the Holocaust grandmother and her six-year-old paraplegic wheeling over? It\u2019s a hard no.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"This
\n\t\tPenn skipped the Oscars to meet with soldiers in Ukraine instead (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

While many had no issue with Penn setting boundaries, some took umbrage with his choice of example.<\/p>\n

This included RepByRepX, who described his wording as \u2018insane,\u2019 and said that he could have \u2018just said \u201cno thanks, not my thing\u201d instead of inventing the most extreme scenario possible.\u2019<\/p>\n

Amara agreed, writing: \u2018This is just not the way to describe not wanting that\u2019, adding that it made Penn \u2018come off as an awful person.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Boundaries are fine, but using Holocaust survivor and disabled<\/a> child as examples was a really poor choice. Could\u2019ve said it simpler,\u2019 said Avery.<\/p>\n

\u2018This shouldn\u2019t surprise anyone,\u2019 said RefusedStone, describing the actor as\u2019insufferable\u2019 for his words.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tWhere do you stand on Sean Penn’s selfie comments?<\/p>\n