Recently, in an interview with The New York Times, actor Sean Penn opened up about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Even though he admitted to disagreeing with “almost everything” Kirk stood for, Penn asserted that we need passionate individuals like him to fuel open dialogues on various social matters.
“We definitely need that debate,” stated Penn. “If we want to tackle the tough issues, we have to be willing to argue and find some middle ground. Political violence seems to be gaining traction, which makes it all the more important for thoughtful people on both sides to acknowledge that if someone holds a really strong belief, that’s a connection you share, even if you disagree.”
Penn stressed that now more than ever, our nation requires a shared understanding that transcends political divides and encourages us to view opposing perspectives as “valid opinions.”
“Take for instance the belief that life starts at conception. If you can’t grasp that idea, it doesn’t speak well of your understanding,” Penn continued. “If you refuse to tolerate beliefs that my strongly held views—like trusting women to make decisions for themselves—are equally valid, we’re just not having the required conversation here.”
It’s worth mentioning that Penn is among many Hollywood faces reflecting on Kirk’s impact after his untimely death. Celebrities like Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Keaton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Amanda Seyfried have also voiced their perspectives over Kirk’s passing.
Charlie Kirk passed away on September 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was just 31 years old.
Following the news, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to pay tribute, declaring, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
