Sean Penn Breaks the Rules, Smokes Inside During Golden Globes

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Okay, so I was watching the Golden Globes the other night, and Sean Penn just…showed up and immediately lit a cigarette at his table! I mean, it was during the live broadcast, and everyone was talking about it. It was a pretty bold move for the two-time Oscar winner, to say the least. Definitely made an impression, though!

This occurred at the ceremony on Sunday, January 11th, which took place at the famous Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Sean Penn was nominated for his performance in the Paul Thomas Anderson film, One Battle After Another, and attended the event.

Good for Sean Penn sitting in the smoking section at the #GoldenGlobes2026 .

— VapingIT, SPE, EEI (@Vapingit) January 12, 2026

He sat at a prominent table with his fellow actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Hudson. A reporter from The Wall Street Journal, Ben Fritz, posted a photo on X that seemed to show Penn smoking a cigarette during the event.

Fritz captured the confusion many people felt, pointing out that Penn’s actions appeared to break California’s rules against indoor smoking. The photo spread rapidly online, sparking a debate about whether Penn was being given preferential treatment or was ignoring the venue’s policies.

According to Vanity Fair, a witness at the event saw Sean Penn smoking inside the theater during the ceremony. While other attendees went outside to smoke, Penn apparently remained seated and smoked indoors.

The moment didn’t go unnoticed by the Instagram account @cigfluencers, which reposted the photo. Hannah Einbinder, also a nominee that evening, confirmed what happened in the comments, stating she witnessed it firsthand.

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Even though it sparked some debate, the film One Battle After Another had a hugely successful night. It won a total of five awards, including the top prize for Best Musical or Comedy.

Sean Penn received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a wild and intense military officer. Although he didn’t win, it was a very competitive year for that award.

Stellan Skarsgård won the supporting actor award for his performance in Sentimental Value. Sean Penn was up for the award, along with his fellow cast member Benicio del Toro, and actors Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Adam Sandler.

Penn has a history of smoking on live TV. He previously made headlines in 2018 when he smoked two cigarettes while being interviewed by Stephen Colbert on The Late Show.

He revealed during that interview that he had taken the sleep aid Ambien after a lengthy flight. Viewers online were surprised at the time – and still are – by his disregard for typical television etiquette.

Fans eager to see more of Sean Penn during awards season won’t have to wait long. He’s nominated for Best Supporting Actor and will be at the Actor Awards on March 1st.

He’ll be competing against well-known actors like Miles Caton, Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, and Paul Mescal. It’s also unclear whether he’ll bring his usual cigarettes to the event.

If you’re wondering what brought Sean Penn back into the spotlight, it’s a film called One Battle After Another. It’s a really gripping political thriller, and it’s cool because it’s the second time he’s worked with director Paul Thomas Anderson – they previously teamed up on Licorice Pizza, which I also loved.

Inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, the film centers on a former revolutionary, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, who must save his daughter from a dishonest and powerful military government.

Penn portrays Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, the film’s main villain. Reviewers have highlighted his performance, suggesting he brought renewed energy and enthusiasm to his acting through this role.

The movie boasts a large cast, with Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and rising star Chase Infiniti all taking on roles. Teyana Taylor received Golden Globe recognition for her performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills in the film.

Okay, so everyone – and I mean everyone – is raving about this movie. Critics absolutely loved it. But here’s the weird part: it hasn’t exactly been a blockbuster. Despite having some huge names attached, it looks like it’s been a struggle to make back its production costs. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, honestly – great reviews, but a lukewarm response at the box office.

Penn recently discussed his career and experiences in the film industry. He shared in an interview that collaborating with Anderson helped him overcome a time when he’d become very discouraged with acting.

He may be leaving acting to concentrate on directing. Sources say he’s planning to direct a new movie, with filming expected to start in the summer of 2026.

Tom Hardy is slated to play the main character in the upcoming project, which will be Sean Penn’s fifth feature film as director. Penn is known for directing critically acclaimed movies like Into the Wild and The Pledge.

People are hoping this new project with Hardy will help Penn recapture the praise he received for his earlier films. For now, he continues to be one of the most talked-about and surprising personalities in Hollywood.

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2026-01-13 11:15