Sean Penn Slams The Oscars For 'Extraordinary Cowardice'

The actor expressed his support for ‘The Apprentice’ and spoke up about how he’s not really looking forward to this year’s Oscars for their lack of diversity.

“The Academy have exercised really extraordinary cowardice when it comes to being part of the bigger world of expression, and in fact, have largely been part of limiting the imagination and very limiting of different cultural expressions,” Penn said at a press conference after he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Marrakech Film Festival.

He then added which films he’s looking forward to and said, “So I don’t I get very excited about what we’ll call the Academy Awards [except for] when a film like ‘The Florida Project,’ or ‘I’m Still Here,’ or, you know,  ‘Emilia Perez,’ of the things that are likely to happen this year. It’s jaw-dropping how afraid this [so-called] business of mavericks is of a great film like that. One with great, great acting. [It’s amazing] that they too can be as afraid as a piddly little Republican congressman.”

Sean Penn’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Sean Penn received a lifetime achievement award from Italian actress Valeria Golino, whom Penn has been close to since she starred in his 1991 directorial debut “The Indian Runner,” at a Sunday night gala. Accepting the award, the director openly talked about the importance of being politically correct and how free expression and diversity remain important aspects of filmmaking

The actor’s Oscar rant came across as a surprise to many, as he himself has bagged two awards for his acting. Penn won Best Actor for his performances in ‘Mystic River’ in 2004 and ‘Milk‘ in 2009.