Sean Penn has vehemently denied the long-standing rumor that he physically abused his ex-wife, Madonna, during their tumultuous marriage in the 1980s. Penn, 63, addressed the allegations once more, emphasizing his love and respect for his former partner.
During their short but turbulent union, sensational claims emerged suggesting Penn had engaged in violent behavior toward Madonna. These included allegations of striking her with a baseball bat and tying her to a chair, which both parties have steadfastly denied over the years.
In a recent interview with a prominent columnist for the New York Times, Penn set the record straight. He recalled an incident where Madonna, expressing concerns about guns in their home, called the police, leading to a SWAT team invading their premises and Penn being placed in handcuffs.
Sean Penn and Madonna during their marriage in the 1980s.
Madonna and Sean Penn in happier times, circa 1988.
Penn went on to describe his confusion upon hearing rumors that he had “trussed [Madonna] up like a turkey,” a phrase he initially didn’t understand. He also shared an anecdote about a later girlfriend who confronted him with the baseball bat allegation, to which he responded with disbelief, pointing out the implausibility of such an action given his smaller stature.
Penn and Madonna’s marriage began in 1985 and ended in 1989, with a divorce filing in 1987 and a brief reconciliation before their final split. Their relationship was marked by intense passion and drama, as evidenced by the SWAT team incident.
Despite the challenges of their marriage, Penn and Madonna have managed to forge an amicable relationship in recent years, which Penn attributes in part to not having children together. In contrast, he shares that repairing his relationship with his second ex-wife, Robin Wright, with whom he has two children, was a more difficult process.
Sean Penn and Madonna at the 1986 premiere of their play Goose And Tom Tom in New York City. The couple married in 1985 and divorced in 1989.
Madonna and Sean Penn at the 2016 Sean Penn Directs Haiti Rising Gala in Los Angeles. The pair have maintained a friendly rapport over the years.
In 2015, Madonna provided further support for Penn’s denial of abuse allegations by testifying on his behalf in a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Empire creator Lee Daniels. The lawsuit stemmed from Daniels’ comparison of Penn to actor Terrence Howard, who admitted to slapping his wife. Madonna’s affidavit specifically denied the baseball bat and chair-tying allegations, calling them “completely outrageous, malicious, reckless and false.”
The lawsuit concluded with a settlement that included a public apology from Daniels and a donation to Penn’s disaster relief organization, CORE.