Anonymous wrote:My friend’s son is completing his first assignment for school. He has to write a world figure he relates to and explain why. He chose Sean Penn. My friend asked me if I had a positive view despite his past in our youth. I haven’t really been following what goes on with him recently. I know he’s done humanitarian stuff. Do most people view him positively now?

Dumb
Little man with big chip.
Decent body, uggo face.
Better director than actor.
Sums him up.

Wife beater vibes

In 2006 I was living in London and heavily pregnant. I was crossing the road in Soho and stopped a black cab from running me over. Sean Penn was in the backseat, and he leaned out of the window to watch me. All I could think at the time, in the moment was "what an ass hole"

Sean Penn is known for being guilty of having a white savior complex.

His humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake led to conflict between him and Wyclef Jean, who was running for president. Penn couldn't stop his ego from getting into a public disagreement.

But much worse was his 2016 interview with drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán for Rolling Stone magazine. Penn gave El Chapo prior approval over the article before publication, which is a violation of common journalistic ethics. Penn was also criticized for
​trivializing El Chapo's criminal's past and even glorifying him when the facts are the man is responsible for thousands of deaths. Penn has only expressed regret that any discussion about the article ignored what he says were its intended purpose, which was to spark a conversation about the war on drugs. He felt his article had "failed" because the focus was instead on the circumstances of the interview.

More recently, I was involved with a private effort to get Penn to back out of producing a film about a tragic event in recent history based on a script that was too loose with the facts and invented a lone American hero -- a trope he seems to find attractive. The families of the victims were appalled by the script and have tried repeatedly to meet with him to discuss their concerns. No response yet but it seems that their message has been heard because the project has been tabled.

Three marriages, three divorces. Four assault convictions, mostly on journalists. Domestic violence allegation with first marriage. It was withdrawn, but who knows? Not the sort of person I'd have over for dinner.

he has dv history

He directed Into The Wild and was very respectful of the family.

WASNT there some weird El Chapo connection? He seems really full of himself

He was also very supportive of Ukraine recently, when the war broke out, was working on a related documentary and was one of the first celebrities to really push for supporting them. He lent his Oscar to Zelensky in solidarity, which came across as kind of silly, but it showed his heart was in the right place.

I just remember him as an actor and Madonna's boyfriend, plus he was married to Robin Wright.

He's a good actor--his role in "Fast Times" is iconic--he's so funny in that. All teenagers should see that movie, it's the same director as "Clueless."

I also just watched him in "At Close Range" recently--that's a good film, also has Christopher Walken in it.

Yikes, but this reminds me of the younger generation who also likes Chris Brown’s music and I’m like no effing way! He beat Rihanna.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger people view him as an activist.

I am a member of Gen X, and see him as a prick with a history of domestic violence.

I’m OP and my friend and I agree with you.

The teacher in question seems to be an elder Millennial. They might remember him that way, too.

My friend’s son has his heart set on Sean Penn, and this assignment is due Monday. She doesn’t want to force him to change, but feels icky about it especially because the assignment is about identifying with someone. Maybe a word of caution or context is appropriate, but 15 year old boys are sensitive.

I'm an elder Millennial (39) and I'd say I'm neutral on him. I vaguely remember my mom not liking him growing up because of the domestic abuse stuff, but I didn't know details about it. I just remember her not liking him. I do definitely remember him for his activism.

I doubt the teacher is going to think the kid identifies with him because of the abuse history. That said, your friend should make sure her kid knows about that part of his past. He may decide he doesn't want to do the assignment on him.

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger people view him as an activist.

I am a member of Gen X, and see him as a prick with a history of domestic violence.

I’m OP and my friend and I agree with you.

The teacher in question seems to be an elder Millennial. They might remember him that way, too.

My friend’s son has his heart set on Sean Penn, and this assignment is due Monday. She doesn’t want to force him to change, but feels icky about it especially because the assignment is about identifying with someone. Maybe a word of caution or context is appropriate, but 15 year old boys are sensitive.

A lot of younger people view him as an activist.

I am a member of Gen X, and see him as a prick with a history of domestic violence.

My friend’s son is completing his first assignment for school. He has to write a world figure he relates to and explain why. He chose Sean Penn. My friend asked me if I had a positive view despite his past in our youth. I haven’t really been following what goes on with him recently. I know he’s done humanitarian stuff. Do most people view him positively now?