Thandiwe Newton Calls Sean Penn “Tragic” And A “Jibbering Fool” For Saying Men Are Too “Feminized”

Thandiwe Newton thinks Sean Penn is "tragic" for saying men have become "quite feminised".

The 49-year-old actress has taken to social media to slam the Hollywood star, who bemoaned men with "cowardly genes" in a recent interview with The Independent.

She wrote on Twitter: ".⁦ @SeanPenn ⁩ [laughing emoji] Dude what are you SAY-ING?? Like for REAL? You’re a jibbering FOOL. MF you used to be sexy but now you’re just tragic (sic)"

Penn — who stars in the coming-of-age drama Licorice Pizza — insisted the "strong women" he knows don't view "masculinity" as a way of "oppressing" them.

The two-time Oscar winner's daughter, Dylan Penn, was also present for the interview and went "quiet" and "stared into space" following her father's comments.

In response to the controversial interview, Newton added: "In front of your DAUGHTER!? That poor little mite. Thank God her Mum’s so dope. Please stop ruining the brilliance of #LicoricePizza with this nonsense. (sic)"

During the interview, Penn bemoaned changing attitudes among men.

The actor — who has Dylan, 30, with Robin Wright — said: "I think that men have, in my view, become quite feminised. I have these very strong women in my life who do not take masculinity as a sign of oppression toward them. There are a lot of, I think, cowardly genes that lead to people surrendering their jeans and putting on a skirt."

Penn, 61, also criticised the "failed citizens" who live in "privileged countries" such as the US and have declined to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

He explained: "Sometimes people take their privilege and freedom as a right to be anti-citizen, to be failed citizens – those who will search out the kind of bogus science that would give them legitimacy [when it comes to] not being vaccinated."

Licorice Pizza is now showing in cinemas. — BANG SHOWBIZ

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos