Sean Penn sparked controversy at the 2026 Golden Globes, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, by seemingly smoking a cigarette at his table during the live broadcast. The 65-year-old actor, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," was seen with what appeared to be a lit cigarette while seated next to his co-star Leonardo DiCaprio.

Images of the moment quickly circulated on social media, drawing mixed reactions. Some viewers expressed shock and disapproval, pointing out that smoking is prohibited inside hotels under California's Clean Air initiative. Ben Fritz, an entertainment industry reporter at the Wall Street Journal, shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) of DiCaprio speaking with Jennifer Lopez as Penn smoked nearby, commenting, "This can't be legal". Other attendees were reportedly seen stepping outside to find designated smoking areas.

However, some observers were less surprised, noting Penn's long-standing habit of smoking in public. He has been seen smoking during a 2018 appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and at a press conference at the 2024 Marrakech International Film Festival. Vanity Fair reported that an insider claimed to witness the moment, saying, “Several guests have been looking for a spot to smoke outside the theater. But one director told me he saw just light up inside the theater, right at his table". Penn's representatives have not yet issued a public statement on the matter.

The incident occurred while the Golden Globes ceremony was underway, and Penn was also a target of host Nikki Glaser's opening monologue. Glaser joked about Penn's appearance, saying, "Everyone in this town is obsessed with looking younger. Meanwhile, Sean Penn is like, 'What if I slowly morph into a sexy leather handbag?'". Penn seemed to take the joke in stride, laughing along with the audience. Glaser continued by quipping about Penn's humanitarian work, suggesting he travels to conflict zones to "do cocaine," a line that also drew laughter from the actor.

"One Battle After Another" emerged as a big winner at the Golden Globes, taking home awards for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress for Teyana Taylor. Despite his nomination, Penn did not win in his category; Stellan Skarsgard won Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Sentimental Value".