Sean Penn’s virulent remarks against the Academy came back into the news when its president, Bill Kramar, finally spoke about it at the Marrakech Film Festival.
Penn said the Academy showed “cowardice,” which created a lot of noise in Hollywood.
Bill didn’t get emotional or defensive when the question was asked, as he said he wouldn’t share exactly how he felt at that moment because he didn’t want his reaction to make headlines.
Instead, the 59-year-old CEO explained how he tries to handle any kind of feedback.
He explained that the Academy had eleven thousand members who all had different opinions on films, awards, and the organization itself.
However, Bill added that he always tried to listen with an open heart, even when the comments were harsh or public.
He believed that serving the world of cinema meant taking every opinion seriously.
The current CEO of the Academy also emphasized the fact that not all issues can be resolved quickly, but every voice still counts.
He said even the upsetting comments could guide the Academy to improve or think in new ways, saying these difficult moments could turn into lessons.
Earlier, Penn had claimed that the Academy limited imagination and cultural expression because his response showed that he respected criticism and wanted to learn from it rather than fight back.
The exchange added to the ongoing discussion about how the Academy should develop and respond to the changing world of cinema.
