In a grand, symbolic gesture, American actor Sean Penn introduced his Oscar statuette to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy throughout a latest assembly in Kyiv.
In a video of the assembly posted to Zelenskyy’s Instagram account on Tuesday, Penn revealed the statuette to the president and insisted he take the coveted prize.
“I feel terrible,” stated Penn, 62. “It’s just a symbolic silly thing, but if I know this is here with you then I’ll feel better and stronger for the fight.”
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“When you win, bring it back to Malibu, because I’ll feel much better knowing there’s a piece of me here,” he added.
This was Penn’s third journey to Ukraine since Russia invaded the nation in February. He has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine and a staunch supporter of Zelenskyy for the reason that begin of the warfare.
In his Instagram caption, Zelenskyy known as the Oscars statuette “a symbol of faith in the victory of our country.”
Penn has two Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role from Mystic River in 2003 and Milk in 2008.
Hollywood actor and movie director Sean Penn (R) meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) as he arms over his personal Oscar statuette to the Ukrainian president in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 8.
Ukrainian Presidency / Handout
Zelenskyy additionally introduced Penn Ukraine’s Order of Merit. The president made certain to specify that the award is just not from him, however somewhat “from Ukraine.”
The pair then walked by means of the streets of Kyiv the place Zelenskyy revealed a plaque within the floor bearing Penn’s title, signature and the date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022.
The plaque is part of the Walk of the Brave, which Zelenskyy described as a spot the place “present and future generations of Ukrainians will remember those brave people who have stood with Ukraine from the very beginning.”
“There are three places in the world that all the pride of my life will be,” Penn stated whereas standing over the plaque. “The place where my daughter was born, the place where my son was born and this.”
In March, Penn threatened to publicly “smelt” his Oscars if Zelenskyy — who was an actor himself — was not permitted to talk on the 2022 Academy Awards. Though Zelenskyy didn’t converse on the occasion (and Penn didn’t destroy his statuettes), the Ukrainian president gave a speech at this yr’s Grammy Awards.
In his pre-taped handle, Zelenskyy urged entertainers and viewers at residence to discuss the Russia-Ukraine invasion and fill the silence of warfare with music.
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