Sean Penn sparked controversy Sunday by making what some alleged was a “racist” joke at the expense of the Mexican director of “Birdman,” the film which won four Academy Awards.
The two-time Oscar-winning actor asked the audience: “Who gave this son of a b***h a green card?” before revealing “Birdman” had triumphed as best picture. The movie was directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who was also honored in that category.
Inarritu and Penn are friends, having worked together on “21 Grams.” Inarritu later told reporters backstage that he found the joke “hilarious…”
Read the rest of the story from our partners at NBC News
Read next: Watch the Cast and Crew of Birdman Celebrate Their Best Picture Win at the Oscars
Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now.
Listen to the most important stories of the day.
More Must-Read Stories From TIME
- How an Online Pharmacy Sold Millions Worth Of Dubious COVID-19 Drugs — While Patients Paid the Price
- Why Literally Millions of Americans Are Quitting Their Jobs
- Meet the Women Participating in the Study That Could Change Future of Breast Cancer
- Inside the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Tomorrow's Business Leaders
- An Innovative Washington Law Aims to Get Foreign-Trained Doctors Back in Hospitals
- Why the Ex-Husband of a Missing Chinese Billionaire Is Risking All to Tell Their Story
- Timothée Chalamet Wants You to Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve
