Sean Penn Sparks Controversy After Smoking During Golden Globes Ceremony
Sean Penn sparked surprise at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards when he was seen smoking a cigarette indoors at his table. Images from the ceremony quickly spread on social media, showing the actor lighting up while sitting with co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Hudson.
Penn, 65, was nominated for his role in One Battle After Another and has a history of smoking on live television. According to The Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Fritz, who shared a photo on X, “This can’t be legal.” Vanity Fair also reported that a director attending the ceremony said Penn had “just lit up inside the theater, right at his table,” while others had to search for outdoor areas to smoke.
Good for Sean Penn sitting in the smoking section at the #GoldenGlobes2026 . https://t.co/xDpnphqsrd pic.twitter.com/VbxnfIi17E
— VapingIT, SPE, EEI (@Vapingit) January 12, 2026
The photo also appeared on the Instagram account @cigfluencers, which wrote, “Sean Penn smoking INSIDE the Golden Globes venue!? Incredible stuff happening here.” Actress Hannah Einbinder, nominated for her role on Hacks, commented on the post, “saw with own eyes.”
One Battle After Another had a strong night at the Globes, winning five awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Penn himself was up for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, though Stellan Skarsgård won the award for Sentimental Value. Penn’s co-stars Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Adam Sandler were also nominees in the same category.
Penn is no stranger to smoking during televised events. In 2018, he smoked two cigarettes during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, surprising many viewers online.
Following the Golden Globes, Penn is set to appear at the upcoming Actor Awards on March 1, where he is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. Other nominees in that category include Miles Caton for Sinners, Benicio del Toro for One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, and Paul Mescal for Hamnet.
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