The 2015 Oscars were filled with uplifting stories, calls to action for ALS and Alzheimer’s and a powerful reminder of the civil rights movement. But Sean Penn’s comment, right before announcing the Best Picture award at Sunday night’s ceremony, may have undone it all.
As he prepared to announce Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Birdman” as the film of the year, Penn made a reference to the Mexican director’s immigration status.
“Who gave this son of a bitch his green card?,” Penn said right before announcing the winner.
Twitter went into a frenzy, as users denounced what the actor likely thought was a joke. Many said the comment was “insensitive” to the plight of many immigrants in the United States and “racist.”
The problem w Sean Penn’s statement is that it limits #Latinos are entitled to–certainly nothing which belongs to whites #oscars
— Nina Terrero (@Nina_Terrero) February 23, 2015
Absolutely horrible green card comment from Sean Penn. The struggles people endure for immigration justice are not punchlines.
— Rosianna Halse Rojas (@papertimelady) February 23, 2015
*no one acknowledges Sean Penn being straight up racist*
— carly aquilino (@carlyaquilino) February 23, 2015
A green card joke. A green card joke.
A GREEN CARD JOKE.
#OSCARSSOWHITE I AM SO DONE WITH YOU #Oscars2015
— Andrea Garcia-Vargas (@AGVwrites) February 23, 2015
That “Green Card” quip was microcosmic of everything everyone hates about privileged folk who adopt the struggles of underprivileged folk.
— Jermaine Spradley (@MrSpradley) February 23, 2015
I’ve traveled to 45 states and head people say “illegal” and “Mexican” interchangeably. That’s why green card joke was tone deaf #Oscars
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) February 23, 2015
Others, like Fusion’s Mariana Atencio and Entertainment Weekly’s Nina Terrero, pointed out that the comment promoted Latino stereotypes because none of the British actors in attendance were questioned about their immigration status.
And yet nobody asked Eddie Redmayne who gave him his green card…#Iñarritu #Oscars2015
— Mariana_Atencio (@marianaatencio) February 23, 2015
BTW, I’m still waiting for the green card jokes on Eddie Redmayne or any of the other Brits in attendance at tonight’s #Oscars
— Nina Terrero (@Nina_Terrero) February 23, 2015
And Mexican-American host Mario Lopez seemed particularly bothered by the comment.
“Who gave this guy a green card?” Sean Penn talking about a Mexican dude to a room full of British & Australian people…
— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) February 23, 2015
And great job Sean Penn. Ruining a fantastic moment with a green card “joke.”
— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) February 23, 2015
Director Alejandro G. Iñarritu and actor Sean Penn in 2003 at a premiere for “21 Grams.”
Iñárritu, who worked with Penn in the film “21 Grams,” went on to give an inspiring acceptance speech and dedicated his award to Mexicans and Mexican-Americans. The director’s final words during the ceremony were quite timely:
I want to dedicate this award for my fellow Mexicans, the ones who live in Mexico,” Iñárritu said. “I pray that we can find and build the government that we deserve. And the ones that live in this country, who are part of the latest generation of immigrants in this country, I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect of the ones who came before and built this incredible immigrant nation.
Earlier in the evening, Iñárritu became only the second Latin American to win the Oscar for Best Director. One year after his close friend Alfonso Cuarón won for “Gravity.” “Birdman” won a total of four Oscars on Sunday night. 
