Sean Penn has threatened to publicly smelt his Oscars statuettes if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not invited to talk at tonight's ceremony.
The 61-year-old actor has claimed the Best Actor Academy Award twice over his storied career - the first for his role in 2003's Mystic River and the second for the 2008 movie Milk.
However, in a recent interview with CNN's Jim Acosta, Penn has not only called on his peers in Hollywood to boycott the prestigious awards ceremony if President Zelensky is not permitted to make an address, but has also vowed to smelt down his Oscars.
Speaking to Acosta, Penn said: "Now, it is my understanding that a decision has been made not to [allow President Zelensky to speak] - that is not me commenting on whether or not President Zelensky had wanted to.
"If the Academy has elected not to do it. If presenters have elected not to pursue the leadership in Ukraine who are taking bullets and bombs for us, along with the Ukrainian children that they are trying to protect, then I think every single one of those people and every bit of that decision will have been the most obscene moment in all of Hollywood history."
Watch Penn's comments below:The actor continued: "And I hope that's not what's happening.
"If it turns out to be what's happening, I would encourage everyone involved to know that, though it may be their moment - and I understand that - to celebrate their films, it is so much more importantly their moment to shine and to protest and to boycott that Academy Awards.
And I, myself, if it comes back to it, when I return, I will smelt mine in public.
"I pray there have not been arrogant people who consider themselves representatives of the greater good who have decided not to check in with leadership in Ukraine. So I’m going to hope that’s not what happened, and I hope everyone walks out if it is."
Discussions over whether or not President Zelensky would appear at the Oscars continued this week when the New York Post reported that the European leader was involved in talks with the Academy, but that nothing had been confirmed.
Additionally, other celebrities have also spoken out about the idea. For example, Amy Schumer said during her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show: "I wanted to find a way to have Zelensky satellite in or make a tape or something, just because there are so many eyes on the Oscars.
"I think it’s a great opportunity to at least comment on a couple of things. I have some jokes that kind of highlight the sort of current condition."
Penn is currently filming a documentary on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
