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Sean Penn: Green Card Joke Backlash Is ‘Flagrant Stupidity’

By Jonathan Franks
Published on: 10:37 PST, Mar 8, 2015

Actor Sean Penn has opened up in a big way about the backlash he received last month after the Oscars ceremony.

Sean’s “green card” joke in reference to Oscar-winning director Alejandro Iñárritu made headlines shortly after the remark was made during the live broadcast.

Fans, critics, and viewers did not hold their tongues when heavily criticizing Sean Penn for asking “Who gave this son of a b***h a green card?” before presenting the Birdman director with the award for “Best Picture.”

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, reports claim that Sean Penn spoke about the negative reactions and backlash with the same type of brutal honesty used in many tweets, blogs, and Facebook posts.

“I’m always surprised by flagrant stupidity. I keep having more hope.”

Penn explained his thoughts on the matter further by stating that he sees that type of “opportunity” used and taken advantage of frequently.

“When somebody sees the opportunity to frame something in the comfort that it will be common — that they can do that and they can get a group to look at them and that they will take on those positions and never really think about what it was.”

In addition to openly confirming his refusal to apologize for his controversial comment, the Oscar-winning actor dropped the F-bomb with a political statement specifically addressing the people that did not understand the joke’s irony.

“I have a big [expletive] you for… 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.”

During the same interview, Sean Penn also discussed the “inside humor” that he shared with Alejandro — which is why he knew that Alejandro would immediately know that his film was the “Best Picture” winner even before the film’s title was announced.

Shortly after the broadcast of the Oscars ceremony, according to Page Six, Alejandro Iñárritu expressed his own reaction to Sean Penn’s seemingly controversial comment when discussing the nature of their relationship.

“I found it hilarious. Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive.”

Alejandro and Sean worked together as director and actor respectively in the 2003 movie, 21 Grams.

Page Six reported that the two have remained close friends over the years, which may explain what Sean Penn felt so comfortable in delivering that type of joke from the Oscars stage.

[Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

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