In a recent interview with The New York Times, Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn has unequivocally denied the long-standing rumors that he physically abused his ex-wife, pop icon Madonna, during their tumultuous marriage in the 1980s. The allegations, which have haunted Penn for decades, claimed that he once assaulted Madonna with a baseball bat and tied her up, leading to a SWAT team intervention at his home.
Recalling the dramatic incident, Penn said, "I had a freaking SWAT team come into my house. I said, 'I'm not coming out. I'm going to finish my breakfast.' The next thing I knew, windows were being broken all around the house and they came in. They had me in handcuffs." This account highlights the extreme measures taken by authorities in response to the allegations, despite their baselessness.
Penn, 63, and Madonna, 65, were married from 1985 to 1989. Throughout their marriage, rumors of domestic violence were rampant, especially when Madonna filed for divorce twice - first in 1987 and then again in 1989. These allegations resurfaced prominently in 2015 when "Empire" creator Lee Daniels mentioned Penn while discussing Hollywood figures accused of domestic violence. Daniels' remarks, made while defending actor Terrence Howard, prompted Penn to file a $10 million defamation lawsuit.
Madonna came to Penn's defense during the lawsuit, vehemently denying any claims of physical abuse. In a statement, she wrote, "While we certainly had more than one heated argument during our marriage, Sean has never struck me, 'tied me up,' or physically assaulted me, and any report to the contrary is completely outrageous, malicious, reckless, and false." Penn dropped the lawsuit in 2016 after Daniels issued a public apology and made a donation to Penn's charity, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort).
Despite the rumors and their rocky marriage, Penn speaks fondly of Madonna. "She's someone I love," he told The New York Times. He noted that repairing their friendship post-divorce was easier because they did not have children together. "It turns out it's a lot quicker to repair a friendship after divorce if there are not kids involved. It took [ex-wife Robin Wright] and I quite a while. There was a lot of drama. Much more important to repair it if there are kids involved, but no easy swing, right?"
The actor also shared an anecdote about a woman he dated who confronted him about the abuse rumors. "I didn't know what the hell she was talking about," Penn said, illustrating how the false allegations have permeated his personal life.
Penn and Madonna have managed to maintain a cordial relationship in recent years. In 2016, they reunited at a charity gala for Penn's Help Haiti Home initiative, where Madonna expressed her enduring affection for him. "I want to say Sean, I love you, from the moment that I laid eyes on you," she said at the event, jokingly adding, "I just wish you'd stop smoking cigarettes."
The interview also shed light on Penn's reflections on his other relationships and the challenges of maintaining amicable ties post-divorce. He mentioned the difficulties he faced in repairing his relationship with Robin Wright, emphasizing that the presence of children added layers of complexity and drama.
Penn's recent statements aim to put to rest one of the most persistent and damaging rumors of his career. As public discourse continues to evolve around issues of domestic violence and celebrity relationships, his and Madonna's mutual denials of the allegations serve as a reminder of the importance of addressing and dispelling false narratives that can perpetuate harm.
