During a promotional tour for his new film "The Gunman," Sean Penn addressed the controversy around his green card comment at the 2015 Oscars.
On Feb 22, while announcing the best picture award at the 87th Academy Awards, the actor-director opened the envelope containing the winner and asked, "Who gave this son of a bitch his green card," before announcing the winner: Mexican-born Alejandro Iñárritu who directed "Birdman."
The reference to a "green card," the proof of permanent residency for immigrants in the United States made some people uncomfortable, according to NBC News.
"I found it hilarious," Iñárritu said after the ceremony, according to NBC News. "Sean and I have that kind of brutal (relationship) where only true friendship can survive."
Iñárritu and Penn have been close since Iñárritu directed Penn in the 2003 film "21 Grams."
"I make on him a lot of very tough jokes that I will not tell you," Iñárritu said, according to NBC News.
Iñárritu dismissed the comments and the following public concern that Penn's comments were disrespectful, while Penn has been keeping mum - until now.
"I'm always surprised by flagrant stupidity. I keep having more hope," Penn said on Saturday in Beverly Hills, according to NBC News.
"The fact is that I understand it. I see it all the time. When somebody sees the opportunity to frame something in the comfort that it will be common, that they can do that and they can get a group to look at them and that they will take on those positions and never really think about what it was," Penn continued.
"I have absolutely no apologies," Penn added calmly, according to NBC News.
"In fact, I have a big f**k you for every ... anybody who is so stupid not to have gotten the irony when you've got a country that is so xenophobic," he said. "If they had their way, you wouldn't have great filmmakers like Alejandro working in this country. Thank god we do."
Penn said his comment before the announcement was intentional. "There's a little inside humor with he and I where I know, and wanted to know, that he would be the first person in that room to know that his film won," he said.
