Sean Penn makes extreme Oscars threat

Fresh from his visit to war-torn Ukraine, Sean Penn says he’ll take extreme action if the country’s President isn’t invited to today’s Oscars.

Actor Sean Penn threatened to “smelt” his Oscars if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky isn’t asked to speak at the Academy Awards.

“If it comes back to it, I will smelt [my Oscar awards] in public,” Penn told CNN on Saturday afternoon. “I pray that’s not what’s happened. I pray there have not been arrogant people, who consider themselves representatives of the greater good in my industry, that have [decided against checking] with leadership in Ukraine. So I’m just going to hope that that’s not what’s happened. I hope [every attendee] walks out if it is.”

Sean Penn will say goodbye to his Oscars if the Ukrainian President gets no airtime at today’s Oscars. Picture: Getty

Stream more entertainment news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

The 94th Academy Awards will be held in Los Angeles today. Penn said “it is my understanding that a decision has been made not” to invite Zelenksy to speak.

“If the [Academy has] elected not to pursue the leadership in Ukraine, who are taking bullets and bombs for us, along with the Ukrainian children that they are trying to protect, then I think every single one of those people and every bit of that decision will have been the most obscene moment in all of Hollywood history,” he said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky may appear at the ceremony via videolink. Picture: AFP

Penn has previously won two Oscars for his performances in 2003’s Mystic River and 2008’s Milk. Penn met with Zelenskyy in Ukraine last month while filming a documentary in the country.

Oscars co-host Amy Schumer revealed this month that she floated event organisers find “a way to have Zelensky satellite in or make a tape” for the ceremony.

“I am not afraid to go there, but it’s not me producing the Oscars,” Schumer explained on Drew Barrymore’s daytime talk show last week.

The Oscars red carpet coverage will begin on Foxtel’s E! channel from 8am AEDT, with the live ceremony airing on Channel 7 from 11am.

This story originally appeared on Fox News and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Sean Penn makes extreme Oscars threat