Real purpose Sean Penn skipped Oscars 2026… as dissatisfied followers blast his boycott

Sean Penn was notably absent from the 2026 Oscars on Sunday, despite taking home his third Academy Award.

The actor, 65, was a no-show at this year’s ceremony despite being nominated for Best Supporting Actor – a move which both offended and impressed netizens.

Penn became the fourth male actor to win three Oscars after he beat Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Delroy Lindo and Stellan Skarsgard in the category.

But his absence infuriated X users, who suggested that future shows cease awarding trophies to winners who are not present. 

However, it was later revealed that the actor and activist had skipped the ceremony to visit Ukraine, according to sources speaking to the New York Times.

It is not known why Penn was visiting Ukraine. However, he has visited multiple times, including to film a documentary about President Volodymyr Zelensky when Russia invaded the country. 

The Daily Mail has contacted Penn’s representatives for comment and has yet to hear back.

‘There should be a rule that whoever doesn’t show up because they don’t give a s**t about the award doesn’t get it either, like in a raffle. Didn’t come? Next on the list, please. [An] exception would be for health reasons. Sean Penn doesn’t give a damn about this award,’ one reasoned.

Another was stunned by the fact that Penn had something ‘better to do’ than attend the Academy Awards: ‘I can’t stop thinking: What the F**K did Sean Penn have better to do than go to the Oscars???’ one inquired. 

‘Unless you have a good reason not to be in attendance, if you can’t be bothered to show up to the Oscars, your award should go to the runner-up. Sean Penn. This is about Sean Penn,’ another wrote.

‘It pisses me off when someone wins an #Oscars and doesn’t even show up. Sean Penn couldn’t care less about that award,’ another posted.

‘Sure give Sean Penn a third Oscar when he didn’t even bother to show up and everyone else in that category deserved it too…’ one wrote. 

‘Sean Penn won “Best Supporting Actor,” who isn’t present because he couldn’t care less since this is already his third Oscar HAHAJAJAJA,’ one wrote. 

‘Sean Penn not showing up to the Oscars knowing he’s going to win is such a prick move,’ one posted.

An unfiltered X user stated plainly: ‘Sean Penn is a piece of [turd emoji].’ 

One joked Penn, who smoked indoors at the 2026 Golden Globes, was merely not capable of sitting through the show without getting his nicotine hit.

‘Sean Penn couldn’t go without a cigarette long enough to sit through the #Oscars,’ one wrote.

At least one X user found the snub rather impressive. 

‘Three Oscars for Sean Penn who doesn’t give a damn about awards season is such a flex,’ one wrote.

Another gave Penn kudos: ‘Give him credit. Sean Penn said he didn’t care about the #Oscars and stayed true to his word and stayed home,’ another posted. 

Indeed, his absence isn’t necessarily a massive surprise.  

Penn has previously missed out on past Oscars where he had been a nominee and also did not attend this year’s BAFTAs and the Actor Awards, where he ended up reigning victorious.

Kieran Culkin, who was announcing the gong, cracked a joke about Penn’s absence when the star ended up winning.   

‘Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening or didn’t want to, so I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf,’ the Succession star joked. 

The 98th Academy Awards celebrated the best films of 2025, with the glitzy ceremony taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. 

Conan O’Brien, 62, returned to host the show for a second consecutive year after taking over the role from Jimmy Kimmel. 

One Battle After Another ended the 2026 awards season by winning Best Picture on a night where Michael B Jordan and Jessie Buckley earned top acting prizes.

Jordan, 39,  shocked the world at the 98th Academy Awards as he upset Timothee Chalamet to win Best Actor for Sinners as Buckley, 36, took home Best Actress for her work in Hamnet at the event held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Paul Thomas Anderson accepted the top prize of the night alongside Teyana Taylor and the rest of the cast and crew as the film earned the most wins of the night with six. 

The American black comedy action-thriller film triumphed over a massive, competitive, field  including: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams.

The Leonardo DiCaprio led film One Battle After Another is centered around a group of ex-revolutionaries who reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own as their enemy resurfaces after 16 years 

The most talked about moment of the night will surely be that Jordan, 39, earned the top honor Best Actor for his leading role in Ryan Coogler film Sinners. 

He upset favorite throughout award season 30-year-old Chalamet, who starred in Marty Supreme, as the field included: Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon, and Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent.

Jordan was in disbelief as he walked up to the stage and was greeted by last year’s winner Adrien Brody.

Sinners is centered around two brothers who return to their hometown to start again only to discover that an even greater evil – in the form of vampires – is waiting to welcome them back. 

Jordan portrayed both brothers in the film: older and more serious twin Elijah ‘Smoke’ Moore in addition to younger and more cheerful sibling Elias ‘Stack’ Moore.