According to a 2024 Clean Indoor Air initiative in California, smoking inside hotels is illegal.

Sean Penn caught on camera smoking during Golden Globes

According to a 2024 Clean Indoor Air initiative in California, smoking inside hotels is illegal.

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January 12, 2026 11:34 a.m. ET

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Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn at 2026 Golden Globes. Credit:

Stewart Cook/CBS via Getty

- Sean Penn was captured on camera smoking inside the Golden Globes ceremony.

- The actor was nominated for his work in Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another*.**

- California's Clean Air initiative prohibits smoking inside hotels.

Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn heated up the 2026 Golden Globes ceremony with what appeared to be a lit cigarette during the show.

In attendance at Sunday night's ceremony in honor of his Best Supporting Actor nomination for director Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another*, the 65-year-old was captured on camera holding the cigarette up to his mouth while seated next to costar Leonardo DiCaprio, with an image of the moment currently circulating on social media.

Another image from inside the Beverly Hilton venue (above) shows Penn and DiCaprio posing for a photo, with a cigarette visible inside a glass in front of Penn.

'One Battle After Another' stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn at 2026 Golden Globes.

Christopher Polk/Getty

According to documents circulated on behalf of California's Clean Air initiative in 2024, "California law prohibits smoking in the following places," including "hotels, motels & other lodging."

The documents list some exemptions, however, including one related to the entertainment industry that indicates smoking is permitted indoors as part of theatrical productions — but, only "if smoking is an integral part of the story" being produced at the time.

** has reached out to representatives for the Golden Globes, the Beverly Hilton, and Penn for comment.**

Nikki Glaser honors Rob Reiner with 'Spinal Tap' tribute at end of Golden Globes

Wanda Sykes dedicates Ricky Gervais' Golden Globes win to trans community after his past transphobic jokes

Penn and his *One Battle After Another *cast and crew celebrated big victories on Sunday night, with the film winning Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy to cement itself as the frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar.

While Penn didn't win his individual category, supporting actress Teyana Taylor triumphed for her work in the film and gave an emotional acceptance speech during the telecast.

The film — about an ex-revolutionary (DiCaprio) tracking down and rescuing his daughter (Chase Infiniti) from the clutches of a maniacal army officer (Penn) — also earned Anderson a pair of Golden Globes for Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Sean Penn in 'One Battle After Another'.

Other headline-making moments from the CBS broadcast included returning host Nikki Glaser quipping on the air that the network was "America's newest place to see... BS news!" amid criticism for CBS News head Bari Weiss' new edition of *CBS Evening News *hosted by Tony Dokoupil.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Wanda Sykes also fronted a comical segment in which she accepted the Best Stand-Up Comedy on Television award on behalf of the absent Ricky Gervais, and dedicated the statuette to "God and the trans community" after the latter's past transphobic jokes and online commentary.

Glaser also closed the ceremony on a sweet note, as, in the final moments of the broadcast, the comedian wore a hat with the fictional Spinal Tap band logo on it in honor of the late *This Is Spinal Tap* director, Rob Reiner.

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- Golden Globes

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