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Sean Penn has “no apologies” for his green card joke

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, presenter Sean Penn, left, and filmmaker Alejandro Iñárritu pose in the press room after winning multiple awards including best original screenplay, best director and best picture for “Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," at the Oscars in Los Angeles. On Saturday, March 7, during a promotional tour for his new film “The Gunman,” in Beverly Hills, Penn opened up about the green card joke he made during the Oscars saying that he has “absolutely no apologies” for his comment. “I found it hilarious,” Iñárritu said after the ceremony. “Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive.” Iñárritu directed Penn in the 2003 film “21 Grams” and the two remain close to this date. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, presenter Sean Penn, left, and filmmaker Alejandro Iñárritu pose in the press room after winning multiple awards including best original screenplay, best director and best picture for “Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," at the Oscars in Los Angeles. On Saturday, March 7, during a promotional tour for his new film “The Gunman,” in Beverly Hills, Penn opened up about the green card joke he made during the Oscars saying that he has “absolutely no apologies” for his comment. “I found it hilarious,” Iñárritu said after the ceremony. “Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive.” Iñárritu directed Penn in the 2003 film “21 Grams” and the two remain close to this date. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, presenter Sean Penn, left, and filmmaker Alejandro Iñárritu pose in the press room after winning multiple awards including best original screenplay, best director and best picture for “Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," at the Oscars in Los Angeles. On Saturday, March 7, during a promotional tour for his new film “The Gunman,” in Beverly Hills, Penn opened up about the green card joke he made during the Oscars saying that he has “absolutely no apologies” for his comment. “I found it hilarious,” Iñárritu said after the ceremony. “Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive.” Iñárritu directed Penn in the 2003 film “21 Grams” and the two remain close to this date. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

By Associated Press 3 min read

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) – Sean Penn opened up about the green card joke heard ’round the world on Saturday in Beverly Hills during a promotional tour for his new film “The Gunman,” saying that he has “absolutely no apologies” for his comment. The actor-director also offered up choice words for those who didn’t recognize the irony in his remarks.

On Feb. 22 at the 87th Academy Awards, Penn, tasked with presenting the best picture award, made waves when he opened the envelope and first asked “Who gave this son of a bitch his green card?” before announcing the winner as “Birdman.”

Directed by the Mexican-born Alejandro Iñárritu, many wondered whether the joke was distasteful. The term “green card” refers to a document that confers permanent residency on immigrants in the United States.

“I found it hilarious,” Iñárritu said after the ceremony. “Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive.”

Iñárritu directed Penn in the 2003 film “21 Grams” and the two remain close to this date.