Sean Penn has ‘absolutely no apologies’ for controversial Oscars joke

SEAN Penn has responded to the controversy which erupted when he made what some people considered to be a racist joke at this year’s Oscars.

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, actor Sean Penn presents the award for best picture to Mexican-born Alejandro Iñárritu for his film, "Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. On Saturday, March 7, during a promotional tour for his new film “The Gunman,” in Beverly Hills, Penn opened up about the green card joke he made during the Oscars saying that he has “absolutely no apologies” for his comment. “I found it hilarious,” Iñárritu said after the ceremony. “Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive.” Iñárritu directed Penn in the 2003 film “21 Grams” and the two remain close to this date. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP, File)

SEAN Penn has opened up about his Oscars green card joke, saying that he has “absolutely no apologies” for his comment.

The actor-director also offered up choice words for those who didn’t recognise the irony in his remarks.

Tasked with presenting the best picture award, Penn made waves when he opened the envelope and first asked “Who gave this son of a bitch his green card?” before announcing the winner as Mexican-born Alejandro Irritu’s Birdman.

Many wondered whether the joke, referring to the document that confers permanent residency on immigrants in the United States, was distasteful.

“I found it hilarious,” Irritu said after the ceremony.

Sean Penn and Alejandro Iñárritu pose in the press room at this year’s Oscars.

“Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive.” Irritu directed Penn in the 2003 film 21 Grams and the two remain close.

“I make on him a lot of very tough jokes that I will not tell you,” Irritu added.

While Irritu’s casual dismissal of any perceived offence helped to temper the public response to the comment, Penn has remained largely silent on the topic.

“I’m always surprised by flagrant stupidity. I keep having more hope,” said Penn of the widespread outrage that followed the moment.

“I have absolutely no apologies,” Penn said with calm resolve. “Anybody who is so stupid not to have gotten the irony when you’ve got a country that is so xenophobic ... if they had their way, you wouldn’t have great filmmakers like Alejandro working in this country. Thank God we do.”