"Is That a Cigarette?" Sean Penn Caught Smoking Openly at His Seat During Golden Globe Awards

Controversy Rekindled by Past Incidents
Netizens Criticize Penn for Ignoring Indoor Smoking Ban

Hollywood actor Sean Penn has sparked controversy after being spotted smoking indoors during the Golden Globe Awards. On January 12 (local time), entertainment media outlets such as People reported that Sean Penn was seen smoking a cigarette while seated during the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, held the previous day in Los Angeles, United States.

Hollywood actor Sean Penn is seen smoking a cigarette inside the Golden Globe Awards venue. Next to him, actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Hudson are engaged in conversation. X (X)

Ben Fritz, a journalist from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), captured an image of Sean Penn with a cigarette in his mouth and shared it on his social media account (X, formerly Twitter), commenting, "This can't be legal." The released photo also shows actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who co-starred with Penn in the film "One Battle After Another," sitting next to him and conversing with actress Kate Hudson.

The photo quickly spread across online communities and social networking services (SNS). Hannah Einbinder, an actress nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the drama "Hacks," commented on a related post, saying she "saw with own eyes," confirming she witnessed the incident firsthand. A journalist from Vanity Fair also reported, "Other attendees were looking for a designated smoking area outside the venue, but I heard that Sean Penn smoked indoors, right at his seat." The journalist further mentioned, "Even during an interview last summer, he kept smoking outside," referencing Penn's smoking habits.

This is not the first time Sean Penn's indoor smoking has caused controversy. In 2018, he appeared on the popular American talk show "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and drew viewer complaints after smoking two cigarettes consecutively on air. Last year, he was also seen chain-smoking during a press conference at the Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco, attracting attention from local media.

There have been numerous cases in the international entertainment industry where celebrities have faced criticism for smoking indoors. Actor Johnny Depp was embroiled in controversy for smoking during a film festival press conference, and Madonna faced backlash after photos of her smoking backstage at a concert venue were released. However, since most award ceremonies and official events strictly prohibit indoor smoking, Sean Penn's actions have been deemed especially inappropriate. Meanwhile, the film "One Battle After Another," starring Sean Penn, won the award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy at this year's Golden Globe Awards.