Sean Penn expressed his disdain for the Academy Awards on Tuesday while attending the Marrakech Film Festival.
Penn, 64, chain-smoked on stage before taking home the Oscars for “restricting diverse cultural expressions” as he shared his support for the President-elect Donald Trump biopic, “The Apprentice,” during a press conference.
The two-time Academy Award winner was on hand for a tribute to his career, saying ceremonies like the Oscars should be seen as “television shows first,” rather than indicators of artistic merit.
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Sean Penn blasted the Oscars for not recognizing artistic expression, as evidenced by newly elected President Donald Trump’s biopic, “The Apprentice.” (Marc Piasecki)
“The Academy has behaved extremely cowardly when it comes to being part of the larger world of expression, and in fact has largely contributed to limiting imagination and severely restricting diverse cultural expressions,” Penn said. per variety.
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“So I don’t get very excited about what we’ll call the Academy Awards (except) when a movie like ‘The Florida Project’ or ‘I’m Still Here,’ or, you know, ‘Emilia Perez,'” of the things that will probably happen this year.
“The Academy has shown extraordinary cowardice when it comes to being part of the larger world of expression, and in fact has largely contributed to limiting the power of imagination and severely restricting diverse cultural expressions.”
He stirred up sentiments over the controversial issue of Ali Abbasi “The Apprentice” film, which states: “If something sneaks through, it should be celebrated.”
Two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn lit cigarettes and smoked on stage. (Marc Piasecki)
“It’s amazing how scared this (so-called) company of misfits is of such a great movie. One with great, great acting. (It’s amazing) that they too can be as scared as a silly little Republican congressman,” he said .
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“The Apprentice” follows Trump’s rise in the 1970s and includes his relationships with his first wife Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova, and lawyer Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong. Sebastian Stan portrays President-elect Trump.
Sean Penn admitted that he doesn’t get that excited about the Oscars anymore. (Antoine Flament)
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During Sunday’s gala, Penn received a Lifetime Achievement Award in which he advocated for freedom of speech.
“There is a demand for diversity all over the world, but not diversity of behavior and not diversity of opinion or language,” Penn said.
“I would encourage everyone to be as politically incorrect as their heart desires, to encourage diversity and keep telling those stories, and I’m very proud and happy to be here. Thank you.”
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