Sean Penn is facing heavy backlash after making controversial remarks about selfies during a Tribeca Festival conversation in New York. In an appearance with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins at Spring Studios for the festival’s 25th anniversary programming, the Oscar-winning actor said he believes people should never take selfies with anyone, calling the practice “a soul-sucker” and harmful for everyone involved.
The criticism intensified after Penn introduced an unexpected and widely condemned example involving a Holocaust survivor and a young child with a disability. He said, “It’s the Holocaust grandmother and her 6-year-old paraplegic wheeling over? It’s a hard no.” The comment quickly spread online and drew sharp reaction from social media users who described the comparison as insensitive, bizarre, and offensive. One X user called him the “biggest dirtbag in Hollywood,” while others said he should have expressed his dislike for selfies in a more respectful way.
Penn’s comments came as he also discussed why he has increasingly avoided major public events. He said large gatherings make him feel anxious and uncomfortable, explaining that he struggles when he is around too many people for too long. Penn said he has now committed to avoiding situations involving more than eight people, describing social settings as overwhelming and repetitive.
The actor said his decision to stop attending awards shows was reinforced after the Golden Globes in January. He said that after appearing there, he realized he could not continue participating in those kinds of events. Penn also claimed he was repeatedly asked for selfies while leaving the ceremony, including by 16-year-old actor Owen Cooper. Instead of attending the Oscars, Penn said he traveled to Ukraine and watched the ceremony from abroad after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The controversy added to Penn’s long history of public backlash and confrontations. Over the years, the actor has developed a reputation for outspoken, sometimes combative behavior. His past legal troubles and clashes with photographers have often brought renewed attention whenever he becomes part of a new controversy.
Penn’s latest remarks have once again placed him at the center of criticism, with many observers arguing that his attempt to reject selfies crossed a line by invoking vulnerable and traumatic real-life examples in a discussion that did not require them. The reaction underscores how quickly comments made by major public figures can spread online and trigger immediate backlash when they are seen as insensitive or poorly chosen.
