‘One Battle After Another’ Star Sean Penn Vows to Never Return to Award Shows After This “Insufferable” Fan Interaction

Sean Penn recently spoke openly about why he avoids big public events, why he dislikes selfies, and why he skipped the most recent Academy Awards even though he was reported to have won Best Supporting Actor.

Sean Penn said he has a strong limit when it comes to crowds. He explained that he cannot handle large gatherings and prefers very small groups. He said he has made a personal rule for himself that he will not attend any event where there are more than eight people in a group. In his view, bigger settings feel uncomfortable and stressful. He said it is not just about awards shows, but about any kind of social situation with too many people around.

He talked about how these events affect him mentally. According to him, large gatherings feel overwhelming because he ends up with very limited time to interact with each person. He described it as something that creates anxiety and discomfort rather than enjoyment.

He also explained why he was not at the Academy Awards. He said he had already discussed it with people he worked with on his film “One Battle After Another,” and they agreed it would be better for his mental health if he stayed away. Instead of attending the Oscars, he went to Ukraine, where he has been involved in work related to the ongoing war and has been trying to draw attention to the situation and the need for international support.

Penn said he still watched the Oscars, but he did it from Ukraine. Because of the time difference, the show ran through the middle of the night for him. He said he was actually glad to watch it from a distance and not be physically present. He described it as a more relaxed experience compared to being in the room.

A major part of the conversation focused on selfies. Penn was very direct about his dislike for them. He said the culture around taking selfies at public events adds pressure and drains people emotionally. He believes it makes interactions shallow and stressful. He said, “People should not do selfies ever with anyone. It’s bad for you; it’s bad for everyone. It’s a soul-sucker.”

He also gave an example of what bothers him in crowded settings, describing how people constantly ask for photos and attention. He said this kind of behavior builds up until he feels he cannot deal with it anymore. He added, “It’s the ninth person,” referring to the idea that even small increases in crowd size can push him past his limit.

Penn also talked about how this shift in his behavior is relatively recent. He mentioned attending the Golden Globes earlier this year and realizing during that event that he no longer wanted to continue showing up at large award ceremonies. He said the experience made him decide to step away from that environment completely.

Despite the criticism of awards shows and public appearances, he said he still respects the work of others in the industry. He added that he felt relief when he stopped attending because it reduced stress and allowed him to focus on work and causes he cares about more directly.

The conversation at Tribeca showed a different side of Sean Penn, focusing less on Hollywood glamour and more on personal limits, mental health, and how he chooses to manage public life.

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