These days, selfies are practically expected whenever a famous face is around. But Sean Penn has made it clear he wants no part of it.
Penn became a household name back in 1982 as Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High—long before smartphones (and front-facing cameras) became part of everyday life.
Now 65, he’s still working steadily, most recently appearing in One Battle After Another alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. Still, fans hoping to snap a quick selfie with him might be turned away, as he’s described the practice in harsh terms.
“People should not do selfies ever with anyone. It’s bad for you; it’s bad for everyone. It’s a soul-sucker,” he told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during the the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
“It’s the Holocaust grandmother and her 6-year-old paraplegic wheeling over? It’s a hard no,” he continued.
His frustration isn’t limited to selfies. Penn also says he avoids large crowds—something that can be tough in the entertainment world. While he did show up at the Golden Globes, he skipped the Academy Awards this year, explaining that for him it’s more than just another ceremony.
He also spoke candidly about his discomfort with big social settings and why events like the Oscars can feel overwhelming.
“It would be the same if this group was going to an afterparty and one stepped into that. That always represented social discomfort for me; too many people. I’m now down, committed for life, that I won’t go anywhere to be in a designated group beyond eight people,” he said before calling the event ‘dread-provoking’.
Despite staying away from the ceremony, the actor did take home best supporting actor for One Battle After Another at the 98th Academy Awards.
His connections to Ukraine have also remained a recurring part of his public life. In 2022, he presented his Academy Award to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling it a ‘symbolic, silly thing’.
He also told Zelenskyy to return it ‘when he wins the war’.
The Mystic River star was later honoured with a plaque on the floor bearing his name and signature, recognising his activism.
This year, he was also given an Oscar-shaped award made from war-damaged rail metal by Ukraine after missing the ceremony while he was in the country.