Sean Penn lit a cigarette at his table during the live January 11, 2026 Golden Globe Awards, flouting California’s indoor-smoking ban and drawing instant backlash on social media.
At a Glance
- Sean Penn smoked inside the Beverly Hilton ballroom during the televised ceremony.
- The moment was captured on camera and reposted by multiple outlets.
- His film One Battle After Another took home five trophies, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
- Why it matters: The act spotlights lax enforcement of no-smoking rules at high-profile events.
Inside-the-Room Reaction
Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Fritz posted a close-up photo showing Penn, 65, inhaling at the table he shared with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson, and other cast members. “This can’t be legal,” Fritz wrote on X.
Vanity Fair correspondents confirmed a director seated nearby told them Penn “just lit up inside the theater, right at his table,” while other attendees searched for outdoor smoking areas.
Instagram account @cigfluencers re-shared the image with the caption, “Sean Penn smoking INSIDE the Golden Globes venue!? Incredible stuff happening here.” Nominee Hannah Einbinder commented on the post: “saw with own eyes.”
A representative for Penn did not immediately return News Of Losangeles‘s request for comment.
Awards Scorecard for One Battle After Another
Penn’s war comedy dominated the night, collecting:
- Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Best Screenplay
- Best Original Score
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Film Editing
Penn personally lost the supporting-actor race to Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value. Also nominated in the category were Penn’s co-star Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Paul Mescal (Hamnet), and Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly).
Past Live-TV Smoking Incident
This is not Penn’s first on-air smoking stunt. During a 2018 appearance on CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he smoked two cigarettes on set, prompting similar viewer complaints.
Up Next for Penn
The actor will compete again for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the Actor Awards on March 1, 2026. Fellow nominees include Miles Caton (Sinners), del Toro, Elordi, and Mescal.
