Actor Sean Penn has voiced his support for the COVID vaccine, insisting it should be “mandatory” for all.
Speaking to CNN’s Michael Smerconish in an interview to discuss his new film Flag Day, Penn made it clear where he stands on the debate surrounding vaccines.
“I do believe that everyone should get vaccinated,” Penn said.
Actor and activist Sean Penn says he believes Covid-19 vaccinations should be mandatory.
“You can't go around pointing a gun in somebody's face, which is what it is when people are unvaccinated,” he tells @smerconish. https://t.co/oKYltfCANn pic.twitter.com/4tfNWdobnh
— CNN (@CNN) August 21, 2021
“I believe it should be mandatory, like turning your headlights on in a car at night, but obviously that’s not going to happen tomorrow and yet, at least it can happen in some areas and businesses, a lot of businesses are starting to take the lead on that.
Love Film & TV?
Get the latest Film & TV news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
“And there are those who have become entrenched in a kind of radical libertarianism and an identity of politic that has sort of perversely turned this issue into something that forgets that in the United States of America — in our entire history — it’s all based on being independent because we understand interdependency.
“The entire history of successful things in this country,” he continued.
“And if we’re gonna continue with successful things — if we’re gonna take some of the great lessons that have been learned in the last year, some of the extraordinary movements, George Floyd, all of what’s happening societally — if we’re gonna take the good parts of that and move it forward, we’re gonna do it interdependently.
“And I think vaccination is the beginning of that, given that it’s such a threat now to business, to lifestyle, to life here and around the world.”
It comes following the star encouraging film fans not to go to the cinema unless they’ve been vaccinated against the virus that continues to spread across the globe.
“I have to say that I do request people who are not vaccinated, don’t go to the cinemas,” Penn said at the time.
“Stay home until you are convinced of these very clearly safe vaccines.”
For more on this topic, follow the Film & TV Observer.
