Editing Sean Penn (section)

==Political views and activism==
{{overly detailed|section|date=July 2023}}
[[File:Sean Penn Visits Cinema Museum In Tehran 04.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Penn in [[Tehran]] in June 2005]]
Penn has been outspoken in supporting numerous political and social causes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35276897|title=Sean Penn: Hollywood hellraiser turned activist|date=January 10, 2016|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref> On December 13–16, 2002, he visited [[Iraq]] to protest against the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration's]] apparent plans for a military strike on Iraq.{{citation needed|date= June 2024}} On June 10, 2005, Penn visited [[Iran]], where, acting as a journalist on an assignment for the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', he attended a [[Friday prayer]] at [[Tehran University]].<ref>Penn, Sean. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/23/DDGVUEAQRL1.DTL ''Sean Penn in Iran'']. San Francisco Chronicle. August 23, 2005.</ref>

Penn's vocal progressive opinions and activism are parodied in the 2004 film ''[[Team America: World Police]]''. In the film, a satirical puppet version of Penn makes outlandish claims about [[Baathist Iraq]], claiming it was a [[utopia]] with "rainbow skies" and "rivers made of chocolate" before the [[U.S. military]] and the [[Coalition of the willing (Iraq War)|Coalition of the Willing]] [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invaded and removed]] [[Saddam Hussein]] from power in 2003. In response to the film, Penn sent an angry letter to its creators [[Trey Parker]] and [[Matt Stone]], inviting them to tour [[Iraq]] with him and ending with the statement, "fuck you".<ref>{{cite web|last=Penn|first=Sean|url=http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2004/10/09/20041009_195805_penn.htm| title=Letter by Sean Penn| date=October 8, 2004| access-date=May 24, 2023|publisher=DrudgeReport Archives}}</ref>

On January 7, 2006, Penn was a special guest at the [[Progressive Democrats of America]], where he was joined by author and media critic [[Norman Solomon]] and activist [[Cindy Sheehan]] at their "Out of Iraq Forum" in [[Sacramento, California]], organized to support and promote the anti-[[Iraq War]] movement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2006/10/28/challenger-lashes-out-at-doolittle-calls-him-coward/|title=Challenger lashes out at Doolittle, calls him 'coward'|agency=Associated Press|date=August 14, 2016|work=[[East Bay Times]]|access-date=October 17, 2021|author1=[[Associated Press]]|author2=Robin Hindery}}</ref> On December 18, 2006, Penn received the [[Christopher Reeve]] First Amendment Award from the [[Creative Coalition]] for his commitment to [[free speech]].<ref>[http://www.thecreativecoalition.org/press/2006Reeve1.htm '' The Creative Coalition Announces Presenters for 2006 Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award and 2006 Spotlight Awards''] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070422125351/http://www.thecreativecoalition.org/press/2006Reeve1.htm |date=April 22, 2007}}. The Creative Coalition. December 2006.</ref>

In August 2008, Penn attended one of [[Ralph Nader]]'s "Open the Debates" super rallies, protesting against Nader and other third-party candidates's exclusion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votenader.org/media/2008/08/19/DenverRally3|title=Sean Penn, Val Kilmer, Tom Morello, Cindy Sheehan at Nader/Gonzalez Super Rally in Denver&nbsp;— Ralph Nader for President in 2008|publisher=Votenader.org |date=August 19, 2008|access-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> In October 2008, Penn visited [[Cuba]], where he met with and interviewed then [[Cuban president]] [[Raúl Castro]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lacey |first=Marc |url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/sean-penn-interviews-raul-castro/ |title=Sean Penn Interviews Raúl Castro |work=The New York Times |date=November 26, 2008 |access-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref>

In 2021, Penn denounced [[cancel culture]], describing it as "ludicrous".<ref>{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Tyler|title=Conan O'Brien, Sean Penn discuss cancel culture calling it 'very Soviet' and 'ludicrous'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/conan-obrien-sean-penn-cancel-culture-soviet-ludicrous|work=Fox News|date=July 7, 2021}}</ref>

===George W. Bush administration===
[[File:March3.J27.UFPJ.WDC.27jan07.jpg|thumb|Penn at the [[January 27, 2007, anti-war protest|anti-Iraq War rally]] in Washington, D.C., in January 2007]]
On October 18, 2002, Penn placed a $56,000 advertisement in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', publicly asking then President [[George W. Bush]] to end military hostilities in [[Iraq]] and elsewhere. The advertisement was written as an open letter and referred to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|planned attack on Iraq]] and the [[War on terror]].<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Bowles|date=September 18, 2006|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-09-18-sean-penn_x.htm|title=Sean Penn plays politics|newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

In the letter, Penn also criticized the Bush administration for its "deconstruction of [[civil liberties]]" and its "simplistic and inflammatory view of good and evil."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/penn.asp |title=Sean Penn Letter to Washington Post |website=[[Snopes]] |date=November 24, 2002 |access-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> Penn visited Iraq briefly in December 2002.<ref name="usatoday"/> The criticism drew praise from Penn's ex-wife [[Madonna]], who said, "Sean is one of the few. Good for him. Most celebrities are keeping their heads down. Nobody wants to be unpopular. But then Americans, by and large, are pretty ignorant of what's going on in the world."<ref>Rees, Paul: 'Listen very carefully, I will say this only once', ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'', May 2003, pp84-92</ref>

The ''Post'' advertisement was cited as a primary reason for the development of his relationship with Venezuelan president [[Hugo Chávez]]. In one of his televised speeches, Chávez used and read aloud an open letter Penn wrote to Bush.<ref name="congeniality">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3668537/Sean-Penn-Mr-Congeniality.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3668537/Sean-Penn-Mr-Congeniality.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sean Penn: Mr Congeniality|last=Somaiya|first=Ravi|date=October 14, 2007|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=February 12, 2012|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The letter condemned the [[Iraq War]], called for Bush to be [[Movement to impeach George W. Bush|impeached]], and also called then U.S. Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and U.S. Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] "villainously and criminally obscene people."<ref>{{cite news|title=Sean Penn Praised by Venezuela's Chavez|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080200761.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418055159/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080200761.html|archive-date=April 18, 2015|url-status=live|last=James|first=Ian|date=August 2, 2007|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=August 22, 2021}}</ref>

On April 19, 2007, Penn appeared on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' and had a "Meta-Free-Phor-All" versus [[Stephen Colbert]] that was judged by [[Robert Pinsky]] following Penn's criticisms of Bush. In the appearance, Penn said, "We cower as you point your fingers telling us to support our troops. You and the smarmy pundits in your pocket– those who bathe in the moisture of your soiled and blood-soaked underwear–can take that noise and shove it."<ref>{{cite web |title = Sean Penn Unloads on Pres. Bush |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/sean-penn-unloads-on-pres-bush |publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=March 27, 2007}}</ref> He won the contest with 10,000,000 points to Colbert's 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crooksandliars.com/2007/04/21/stephen-colbert-vs-sean-penn/ |title=Stephen Colbert vs Sean Penn |website=[[Crooks and Liars]] |date=March 27, 2007}}</ref>

On December 7, 2007, Penn said he supported Ohio Congressman [[Dennis J. Kucinich]] in the [[2008 U.S. presidential election]], and again criticized Bush's handling of the Iraq War. Penn questioned whether Bush's daughters, [[Jenna Bush|Jenna]] and [[Barbara Bush (born 1981)|Barbara]], supported the war in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sean|last=Penn|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-penn/an-open-letter-to-the-pre_2_b_44172.html|title=An Open Letter to the President...Four and a Half Years Later|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=March 24, 2007}}</ref>

===Natural disasters===
In September 2005, Penn traveled to [[New Orleans]], to aid [[Hurricane Katrina]] victims. He was physically involved in rescuing people,<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/14/america/NA-FEA-US-Katrina-Celebrities.php ''Many celebrities have helped with New Orleans recovery efforts'']. International Herald Tribune. December 14, 2007.</ref> although there was criticism that his involvement was a PR stunt as he hired a photographer to come along with his entourage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/world/penns-rescue-attempt-springs-a-leak/2005/09/05/1125772436185.html|title=Penn's rescue attempt springs a leak|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=September 5, 2005|access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref> Penn denied such accusations in an article he wrote for ''[[HuffPost]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-penn/mountain-of-snakes_b_146765.html|title=Mountain of Snakes|last=Penn|first=Sean|date=November 30, 2008|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=November 28, 2010}}</ref> Director [[Spike Lee]] interviewed Penn for Lee's documentary about Hurricane Katrina, ''[[When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts]]'' (2006).

After the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], Penn founded the [[J/P Haitian Relief Organization]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/05/03/Sean-penn-haiti-jphro-opportunities|publisher=The World Bank|date=May 3, 2013|title=Sean Penn: It's time to seize opportunities in Haiti |access-date=November 21, 2013}}</ref> which operated a 55,000 person tent camp.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jphro.org/ |title=Haitian Relief Organization |publisher=Jphro.org |access-date=February 22, 2011 |archive-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224230427/http://jphro.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Prior to founding the organization, Penn acknowledged he had never visited [[Haiti]] and did not speak French or [[Haitian Creole|Creole]]. When asked about critics who questioned his experience on Haiti, he said he hopes they "die screaming of [[rectal cancer]]".<ref name=tmagazine>{{cite news |last=Heller |first=Zoe |date=March 25, 2011|title=The Accidental Activist |url=https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/the-accidental-activist/ |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>

On January 31, 2012, due largely to his visibility as an on-the-ground advocate for rescue and aid efforts in the aftermath, Penn was designated by then [[Haitian president]] [[Michel Martelly]] as Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti, the first time a non-Haitian citizen has held the position in the country's history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/haiti-names-sean-penn-ambassador-at-large/|title=Haiti names Sean Penn 'ambassador at large'|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=January 31, 2012}}</ref> Also in 2012, at the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, Penn was recognized with the Peace Summit Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hauteliving.com/2016/11/sean-penn-talks-haiti-humanitarianism-and-hollywood-2/623784/ |title=Sean Penn Talks Haiti, Humanitarianism and Hollywood |date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=September 17, 2020 |work=[[Haute Living]] |first=Laura |last=Schreffler}}</ref>

===Gender and sexual orientation===
On February 22, 2009, Penn received the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for the film ''[[Milk (2008 American film)|Milk]]''. In his acceptance speech, he said: "I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahalo.com/sean-penn-oscar-speech |title=Sean Penn Oscar Speech |publisher=Mahalo.com |date=February 22, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2011}}</ref> In 2022, Penn expressed his position on masculinity, saying, "I am in the club that believes that men in American culture have become wildly feminised...I don't think that [in order] to be fair to women, we should become them." He later told ''[[The Independent]]'' that "I think that men have, in my view, become quite feminised...There are a lot of, I think, cowardly genes that lead to people surrendering their jeans and putting on a skirt."<ref>{{cite news|last=Mottram|first=James|title=Sean and Dylan Penn on Flag Day: 'It did feel like going through therapy'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/sean-penn-interview-dylan-flag-day-b2001727.html|work=[[The Independent]]|date=January 28, 2022}}</ref>

===International affairs===
Penn gained significant attention in [[Pakistan]] media when he visited [[Karachi]] and [[Badin]] in 2012. On March 23, 2012, accompanied by U.S. Consul General William J. Martin, Penn visited flood-stricken villages in Karim Bux Jamali, Dargah Shah Gurio, and Peero Lashari in the [[Badin]] District, where he distributed blankets, quilts, kitchen items, and other goods to flood survivors.<ref>{{cite news|author=Razaq Khatti|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/354309/hollywood-visitor-sean-penn-comes-to-badin|title=Hollywood visitor: Sean Penn comes to Badin|work=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=March 24, 2012|access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Mahim Maher|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/my_pakistan/item/sean_penn_comes_to_pakistan_20120324|title=Sean Penn comes to Pakistan|publisher=[[JewishJournal.com]]|date=March 24, 2012|access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref>

On March 24, 2012, during his visit to Pakistan, Penn visited Bilquis Edhi Female Child Home and met Pakistani humanitarian worker [[Abdul Sattar Edhi]] and his wife [[Bilquis Edhi]] and laid floral wreaths at the shrine of [[Abdullah Shah Ghazi]] in honor of him.<ref>{{cite news|author=Saba Imtiaz|author-link=Saba Imtiaz|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/354623/class-act-a-touch-of-inspiration-runs-both-ways-as-sean-penn-visits-shrine-and-edhi-home/|title=A touch of inspiration runs both ways as Sean Penn visits shrine and Edhi home|work=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=March 25, 2012|access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=APP|url=http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/24/actor-sean-penn-visits-edhi-centre-karachi.html|title=Actor Sean Penn visits Edhi Centre, Karachi|work=Dawn|location=Pakistan|date=March 25, 2012|access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref>

Penn is also believed to have played a role in securing the release of American entrepreneur [[Jacob Ostreicher]] from a Bolivian prison in 2013, and was credited by Ostreicher for having personally nursed him back to health after his release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/05/21/orthodox-jewish-captive-jacob-ostreicher-recounts-how-sean-penn-nursed-him-back-to-health-in-his-own-home|title=Orthodox Jewish Captive Jacob Ostreicher Reveals How Sean Penn Nursed Him Back to Health in His Own Home|date=May 21, 2014|work=The Algemeiner|access-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref>

Penn is the founder of the nonprofit organization [[CORE (formerly J/P Haitian Relief Organization)|Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)]], which distributed aid in [[Haiti]] following the country's 2010 earthquake and [[Hurricane Matthew]] and administered free [[COVID-19]] diagnostic tests in the U.S. during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/8432bb7c2939712cb4d1ec97a6b38bc6|title=Sean Penn wants to 'save lives' with free COVID-19 testing|work=[[Associated Press]]|date=April 11, 2020|last=Isaza|first=Marcela|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2021, the [[National Labor Relations Board]] filed a complaint that Penn and CORE violated [[U.S. federal]] labor law, contending that Penn "impliedly threatened" his employees with reprisals after they complained about working conditions, which allegedly included 18-hour work days.<ref name=nyt211028>{{cite news|title=Sean Penn the Focus of N.L.R.B. Amid Comments on Hours and Food at Vaccine Site|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/arts/sean-penn-core-nlrb-complaint-vaccine.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/arts/sean-penn-core-nlrb-complaint-vaccine.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|first=Colin|last=Moynihan|date=October 28, 2021 |access-date=October 28, 2021 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In February 2012, during the [[Syrian civil war]], Penn stood beside [[Venezuelan president]] [[Hugo Chávez]] as Venezuela supported the government of Syria, led by [[Bashar al-Assad]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-syria-idUSTRE81F2AU20120216|title=Exclusive: Venezuela ships fuel to war-torn Syria |work=[[Reuters]] |date=February 16, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2012}}</ref> In March 2010, Penn called for the [[safety of journalists|imprisonment of journalists]] who referred to [[Venezuelan President]] [[Hugo Chávez]] as a dictator.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/11/sean-penn-hugo-chavez-venezuela|location=London, UK|work=The Guardian|first=Rory|last=Carroll|title=Sean Penn: Journalists who call Hugo Chávez a dictator should be jailed|date=March 11, 2010}}</ref> 
Penn's was criticized by conservative and libertarian media sources, including ''[[National Review]]'' and ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sean Penn Wants Reporters Jailed for Calling Chavez 'Dictator'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/sean-penn-wants-reporters-jailed-for-calling-chavez-dictator|date=April 11, 2016|work=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Moynihan|first=Michael|title=Sean Penn Wants Me Thrown In Jail|url=https://reason.com/2010/03/09/sean-penn-wants-me-thrown-in-j/|work=Reason|date=March 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Williamson|first=Kevin D.|title=Liberal Fascism Alert: Sean Penn Edition|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/media-blog/liberal-fascism-alert-sean-penn-edition-kevin-d-williamson/|work=National Review|date=March 9, 2010}}</ref>

Penn and Chávez maintained a friendship; when Chávez died in 2013, Penn said: "Venezuela and its revolution will endure under the proven leadership of Vice President [[Nicolás Maduro]]. Today the United States lost a friend it never knew it had. And poor people around the world lost a champion. I lost a friend I was blessed to have."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/05/world/americas/hugo-chavez-reaction/?hpt=hp_t1|title=Hugo Chávez's death draws sympathy, anger|publisher=CNN|date=March 6, 2013|access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> Penn's friendship with Chávez and his praise for Cuban dictator [[Raúl Castro]] have been criticized by human rights activist [[Thor Halvorssen (human rights activist)|Thor Halvorssen]] and media, including ''[[The New York Times]]'', the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', ''[[The New Criterion]]'', and ''[[The Advocate (magazine)|The Advocate]]'', each of which alleged that Castro and Chávez's strong anti-[[LGBT]] stances clashed with Penn's support for LGBT groups.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Roger|title=Dangers of the Penn|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/opinion/05Cohen.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick|title='Milk' star Sean Penn: Pal of anti-gay dictators?|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/the-big-picture/story/2008-12-11/milk-star-sean-penn-pal-of-anti-gay-dictators|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kirchick|first=James|title=A Friend to Gays and Antigay Dictators Alike|url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/commentary/2008/12/09/friend-gays-and-dictators-alike|work=The Advocate|date=December 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Weiss|first=Michael|title=Sean Penn, journalist|url=https://newcriterion.com/blogs/dispatch/sean-penn-journalist|date=December 3, 2007|work=[[The New Criterion]]}}</ref> 
Actress [[María Conchita Alonso]], who co-starred with Penn in ''[[Colors (film)|Colors]]'', also issued an "Open Letter to Sean Penn", attacking his views on Chávez.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bershad|first=Jon|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/actress-maria-conchita-alonso-writes-open-letter-to-sean-penn-on-venezuela/ |title=Open Letter to Sean Penn: Actress Confronts Actor On Hugo Chavez |publisher=Mediaite.com |date=March 29, 2010}}</ref> In December 2011, Alonso and Penn began verbally fighting at an airport, during which Penn called her "a pig" and Alonso called Penn a [[communist]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wmal.com/Article.asp?id=2357687 |title=Where Washington Comes To Talk Now on 105.9FM! |publisher=WMAL |access-date=March 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403195630/http://wmal.com/Article.asp?id=2357687 |archive-date=April 3, 2012 }}</ref>

On January 9, 2016, a day after Mexican officials announced the capture of fugitive [[Sinaloa Cartel]] boss [[Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán]] in a militarized raid, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' reported that Penn and actress [[Kate del Castillo]] had conducted a secret interview with El Chapo prior to his arrest.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sean Penn Met With 'El Chapo' for Interview in His Hide-Out|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/world/americas/el-chapo-mexican-drug-lord-interview-with-sean-penn.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 9, 2016|access-date=January 11, 2016|issn=0362-4331|first=Ravi|last=Somaiya}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='El Chapo' Guzmán secretly met Sean Penn in Mexico |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/10/americas/el-chapo-sean-penn-rolling-stone-interview/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=January 10, 2016|access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> Del Castillo was contacted by Guzmán's lawyer, who was then under [[CISEN]] surveillance, to discuss producing a biographical film about Guzmán, and communication between the two increased following Guzmán's escape from a Mexican prison in July 2015.<ref name=Milenio>{{cite news|last1=López-Dóriga|first1=Joaquín|title="Ola ermoza"…|url=http://www.milenio.com/firmas/joaquin_lopez-doriga/Ola-ermoza_18_664313587.html|newspaper=[[Milenio]]|access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref> The deal for the interview was brokered by del Castillo.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Watson|first1=Katy|title=El Chapo: Who is Kate del Castillo?|work=BBC News|date=January 11, 2016|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35281218|access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref>

According to text messages released between Penn and del Castillo, El Chapo did not know who Sean Penn was.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texts Purportedly Reveal El Chapo's Eagerness to Meet Actress Kate del Castillo|date=January 13, 2016 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/texts-purportedly-reveal-el-chapo-s-eagerness-meet-actress-kate-n495721|publisher=NBC News|access-date=January 14, 2016}}</ref> CISEN released photographs of del Castillo at the meetings with Guzmán's lawyers and of Penn and del Castillo arriving in Mexico. The interview was criticized by [[White House]], which called it "maddening".<ref>{{cite news|title='El Chapo' Guzman: Sean Penn interview provokes US scorn |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35276894|work=BBC News|access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> Mexican authorities said they sought to question Penn over the interview, which had not been approved by either the American or Mexican government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Penn won't face US charges over El Chapo interview|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-11/penn-wont-face-us-charges-over-el-chapo-interview/7079674|newspaper=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=January 10, 2016|access-date=January 12, 2016}}</ref> Penn and del Castillo's meeting with Guzmán was investigated by the [[Attorney General of Mexico]].<ref name="El Universal">{{cite news|last1=Loret de Moda|first1=Carlos|title='Hermosa', el nombre clave de Kate|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/entrada-de-opinion/columna/carlos-loret-de-mola/nacion/2016/01/12/hermosa-el-nombre-clave-de-kate|newspaper=[[El Universal (Mexico City)|El Universal]]|date=December 1, 2016|access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref>

In October 2020, Penn [[Twitter|tweeted]] support for [[Armenia]] in the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|Nagorno-Karabakh war]] between Armenia and [[Azerbaijan]]. He also criticized [[Turkey]]'s involvement in the conflict and close [[Turkey–United States relations|Turkey–United States ties]] and simultaneously endorsed [[Joe Biden]] in the [[2020 U.S. presidential election]]. Penn said, "Armenians are being slaughtered by [[Donald Trump|Trump]] pal [[Erdogan]] with weapons WE provided. THIS is NOT America! Biden for America's new birth!".<ref>{{cite news |title=Armenians are being slaughtered by Trump pal Erdogan – Sean Penn |url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/10/24/armenians-are-being-slaughtered-by-trump-pal-erdogan-sean-penn/ |work=Public Radio of Armenia |date=October 24, 2020}}</ref>

====Ukraine====
In 2022, Penn visited [[Ukraine]] to film a documentary about the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of that country]].<ref name="marinecorpstimesSP2422022"/> Penn attended press briefings in [[Kyiv]], met with officials and spoke to journalists and military personnel about the Russian invasion.<ref name="1682959SeanPenn"/><ref name="marinecorpstimesSP2422022">{{cite web|url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2022/02/24/sean-penn-filming-documentary-on-the-ground-in-ukraine/|title=Sean Penn filming documentary on the ground in Ukraine|work=[[Marine Corps Times]]|first=Sarah|last=Sicard|date=February 24, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref> On February 25, 2022, Penn said, "If we allow it [Ukraine] to fight alone, our soul as America is lost."<ref name="1682959SeanPenn">{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/sean-penn-statement-ukraine-putin-america-fight-1682959|title=Sean Penn In Ukraine: Putin Has Made a 'Horrible Mistake', Urges U.S. to Fight|work=[[Newsweek]]|first=Jamie|last=Burton|date=February 24, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref>

Penn also praised the response from the Ukrainian government and its citizens.<ref name="1682959SeanPenn"/> As Penn and his team prepared to leave Ukraine, they abandoned their car and walked with their luggage for miles to the Polish border.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/entertainment/sean-penn-ukraine-border/index.html|access-date=April 25, 2022|last=Respers France|first=Lisa|date=March 4, 2022|title=Sean Penn walked to Polish border to leave Ukraine|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Russia is sanctioning Penn over his Ukraine support.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia sanctions Ben Stiller and Sean Penn over Ukraine support|date=September 6, 2022|website=[[Reuters]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214043157/https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-sanctions-ben-stiller-sean-penn-over-ukraine-support-2022-09-06/|archive-date=February 14, 2023|url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-sanctions-ben-stiller-sean-penn-over-ukraine-support-2022-09-06/}}</ref>

In Kyiv in November 2022, Penn lent an [[Academy Awards|Oscar statuette]] to [[President Zelenskyy]], saying, "This is for you. It's just a symbolic silly thing...When you win, bring it back to [[Malibu, California|Malibu]]." Zelensky, in turn, awarded Penn the [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)|Ukrainian Order of Merit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/09/sean-penn-gives-oscar-to-ukraine-president-zelenskiy/|title=Sean Penn loans his Oscar to Ukraine's president Zelenskiy |last=Pulver|first=Andrew|date=November 9, 2022|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=November 9, 2022}}</ref>

====Falkland Islands====
[[File:Sean Penn with Cristina Fernández.jpg|thumb|Penn and [[President of Argentina]] [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] during Penn's visit to [[Argentina]] in February 2012]]
In February 2012, Penn met with the [[President of Argentina]], [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]], in [[Buenos Aires]], where he commented on the long-running [[Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute|dispute]] between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the [[Falkland Islands]], saying: "I know I came in a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands. And I hope that diplomats can establish true dialogue in order to solve the conflict as the world today cannot tolerate ridiculous demonstrations of colonialism. The way of dialogue is the only way to achieve a better solution for both nations."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-17022603|title=Falklands dispute: Argentine union to boycott UK ships|publisher=BBC|date=February 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/feb/14/sean-penn-argentina-falkland-islands|title=Sean Penn backs Argentina over Falkland Islands|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/92675/the-world-cant-tolerate-anymore-ridiculous-colonialism-sean-penn-says-after-meeting-cfk|work=[[Buenos Aires Herald]]|title='The world can't tolerate anymore ridiculous colonialism', Sean Penn says after meeting CFK|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-date=February 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216232530/http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/92675/the-world-cant-tolerate-anymore-ridiculous-colonialism-sean-penn-says-after-meeting-cfk|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The comments were taken as support of Argentina's claim to the islands and evoked reactions in British media, including a satirical article in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' requesting that Penn "return his Malibu estate to the [[Mexicans]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100137521/sean-penn-should-return-his-malibu-estate-to-the-mexicans|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217020921/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100137521/sean-penn-should-return-his-malibu-estate-to-the-mexicans/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2012|title=Sean Penn should return his Malibu estate to the Mexicans|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first=Tim|last=Stanley|date=February 15, 2012}}</ref>

In February 2012, Penn's comments on the Falklands dispute were criticized by [[Falklands War]] veteran and political activist [[Simon Weston]], who said, "Sean Penn does not know what he is talking about and, frankly, he should shut up. His [Penn's] views are irrelevant and it only serves to fuel the fire of the Argentinians and get them more pumped up."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17065995|title=Sean Penn's Argentina Falklands support angers Simon Weston|work=[[BBC News]]|date=February 16, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225091457/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17065995|archive-date=December 25, 2013}}</ref> [[Conservative Party (UK)|British Conservative]] MP [[Patrick Mercer]] called Penn's statement on the Falklands "moronic".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/sean-penn-prince-william-is-provoking-argentina/|title=Sean Penn: Prince William is provoking Argentina|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=February 16, 2012|access-date=July 11, 2019}}</ref> Lauren Collins wrote in ''[[The New Yorker]]'', "As of today, Sean Penn is the new [[Karl Lagerfeld]]—the man upon whom, having disrespected something dear to the United Kingdom, the British papers most gleefully pile contempt".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Lauren|last=Collins|url=https://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/lauren-collins/2012/02/sean-penns-falkland-war.html|title=SEAN PENN'S FALKLANDS WAR|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2012}}</ref>

Penn later claimed his comments were misrepresented in British press and that his criticism of "colonialism" was a reference to the deployment of [[Prince William]] as an air-sea rescue pilot, describing it as a "message of pre-emptive intimidation". He claimed that the Prince's posting meant "the automatic deployment of warships", and stated: "My oh my, aren't people sensitive to the word 'colonialism', particularly those who implement colonialism."<ref>{{cite news|first=Alexandra|last=Topping, Alexandra|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/feb/15/sean-penn-prince-william-falklands?newsfeed=true|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=Sean Penn hits out at Prince William's Falklands posting|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Penn">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/23/sean-penn-falklands-malvinas-diplomacy-interrupted?intcmp=239 |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=Sean |last=Penn |title=Sean Penn: The Malvinas/Falklands – diplomacy interrupted |date=February 23, 2012}}</ref>

In an op-ed written in ''[[The Guardian]]'', Penn wrote that "the legalisation of Argentinian immigration to the Malvinas/Falkland Islands is one that it seems might have been addressed, but for the speculative discovery of booming offshore oil in the surrounding seas this past year" and that it was "irresponsible journalism" to suggest "that I had taken a specific position against those currently residing in the Malvinas/Falkland Islands, that they should either be deported or absorbed into Argentine rule. I neither said, nor insinuated that".<ref name="Penn"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/feb/23/sean-penn-britain-argentina-falklands?newsfeed=true |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=Nicholas |last=Watt |title=Sean Penn calls for Britain to negotiate with Argentina over Falklands |date=February 23, 2012}}</ref>