Sean Penn Caught Smoking at His Table During the Golden Globes Event

Sean Penn at the 2026 Golden Globes.
Credit :

Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty

Sean Penn Sparks Controversy with Smoking Incident at Golden Globes

Sean Penn was seen smoking a cigarette indoors at his table during the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, an action that has since garnered widespread attention on social media. The event took place on January 11 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where Penn was nominated for his performance in One Battle After Another, which went on to win five awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Images of Penn smoking were shared online, prompting reactions from viewers. The actor, 65, sat at a table alongside costar Leonardo DiCaprio and other attendees when he lit up. Ben Fritz, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, captured a photo of the moment, noting, "This can’t be legal" in his post on X.

Adding to the conversation, a director attending the event remarked to Vanity Fair that Penn had "just lit up inside the theater, right at his table," while many guests were seeking designated smoking areas outside. The unusual sight of an actor smoking indoors at such a high-profile event raised eyebrows, as tobacco use remains heavily regulated in public venues.

The incident did not go unnoticed on social media platforms. An Instagram account named @cigfluencers shared the moment with the caption, "Sean Penn smoking INSIDE the Golden Globes venue!? Incredible stuff happening here." Hannah Einbinder, a star from Hacks who was also nominated that night, chimed in with a comment claiming she "saw with own eyes."

A representative for Penn has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.

Stewart Cook/CBS via Getty

Throughout his career, Sean Penn has never shied away from controversial moments. He previously sparked a similar backlash when he smoked cigarettes during a 2018 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, eliciting a mix of disbelief and humor on social media.

As he heads towards the next major awards season, Penn has also received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the upcoming Actor Awards on March 1. Along with him, Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Miles Caton have also secured nominations in that category, highlighting the competitive nature of this awards season.

<img src="https://people.com/thmb/NoRHbWDKvxzUPWByapeAzKLfPpw=/4000×0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2):format(webp)/sean-penn-julia-roberts-83rd-annual-golden-globe-awards-011226-1-f374aaa136464cceb9c6f01828dbfde5.jpg" width="1500" height="1000" alt="Leonardo DiCaprio and Paul Thomas Anderson (L) accept the Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Award for "One Battle After Another" onstage from Sean Penn and Julia Roberts (R) during the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards." class="lazyload mntl-image mntl-image universal-image__image" data-expand="300">

Sean Penn and Julia Roberts onstage at the 2026 Golden Globes.

Beyond the smoking incident, One Battle After Another’s success at the Golden Globes marks a significant achievement for the film, reaffirming its critical acclaim and the impact of its ensemble cast.