Sean Penn Shaded by Presenter After Supporting Actor Oscar Win

Sean Penn won the third Oscar of his career on Sunday night, but this time he missed the ceremony on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Succession actor Kieran Culkin, a previous Oscar winner for the 2024 comedy drama A Real Pain, presented the award in the best supporting actor category.

Penn was nominated alongside his One Battle After Another co-star Benicio Del Toro; Jacob Elordi for his role in  Frankenstein; Delroy Lindo for Sinners; and Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value.

When Culkin announced the winner, Penn wasn’t inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and producers showed his picture on screen.

While accepting the award on Penn’s behalf, Culkin jabbed the actor for skipping the ceremony. “Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening or didn’t want to, so I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf,” Culkin said.

The audience inside the Dolby roared with laughter at the “didn’t want to” line.

Penn received the award for his performance as a corrupt colonel determined to eliminate a group of ex-revolutionaries and their offspring in One Battle After Another.

The cast also included Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti in her first feature film role. The thriller won several other Oscars,  including best picture and the first ever trophy for casting.

Penn’s previous Oscar wins were both in the best actor category — for the biopic Milk (released in 2008) and the psychological thriller Mystic River (2003).