Full Breakdown
Julia Roberts and Sean Penn Discuss Cancel Culture and the Role of Shame
12/7/2025, 5:59:44 AM
Insights on Cancel Culture
In a recent interview with *Variety*, Hollywood actors Julia Roberts and Sean Penn shared their perspectives on cancel culture and the concept of shame within the entertainment industry. The discussion took place while promoting their respective films: Roberts stars as Alma Imhoff, a Yale philosophy professor confronting her biases in Luca Guadagnino’s *After the Hunt*, while Penn plays Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, a character embroiled in chaos and revenge in Paul Thomas Anderson’s *One Battle After Another*.
Roberts emphasized the importance of listening in contemporary conversations, stating that the current cultural climate often leads to intense discussions where individuals are more focused on asserting their viewpoints rather than engaging in meaningful dialogue. She noted, “Really bright people do not jockey for their position. They share their ideas and their feelings and then they listen intently.” This sentiment reflects her belief that the art of listening has diminished in today’s society.
The Role of Shame
Sean Penn contributed to the conversation by asserting that shame is often underrated in modern discourse. He remarked, “We’re in this time of a lot of talk therapy, a lot of what I’d call the trauma industry. I think shame is underrated these days.” Penn argued that shame should not be viewed negatively, suggesting that it can foster humility and self-reflection. He posed the question, “Why shouldn’t people be ashamed of things? Hold on to it for a while and reenter with some more humility.”
Both actors expressed a desire for a cultural shift where discomfort is acknowledged rather than avoided. Penn stated, “‘Not everything is supposed to make you comfortable,’ I just wanted to go, ‘Thank God somebody’s saying this.’” This perspective highlights their belief that confronting uncomfortable truths is essential for personal and societal growth.
Criticism & Opposition
While Roberts and Penn advocate for a return to shame and listening, critics of their views may argue that promoting shame could lead to further stigmatization and hinder open dialogue. The concept of cancel culture itself is contentious, with some asserting that it serves as a necessary accountability mechanism, while others view it as a threat to free expression.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Really bright people do not jockey for their position. They share their ideas and their feelings and then they listen intently. It’s the listening that I feel we’ve gotten the farthest from in culture, because conversations get so intense so quickly, and you’re just waiting for that break so that you can say, 'OK, but this is why I’m right. This is why what I believe is better,'” — Julia Roberts, Actress
- “We’re in this time of a lot of talk therapy, a lot of what I’d call the trauma industry. I think shame is underrated these days.” — Sean Penn, Actor
- “‘Not everything is supposed to make you comfortable’, I just wanted to go, ‘Thank God somebody’s saying this.’” — Sean Penn, Actor
- “It’s got a bad name this decade. Why shouldn’t people be ashamed of things? Hold on to it for a while and reenter with some more humility.” — Sean Penn, Actor
The dialogue between Roberts and Penn underscores a broader conversation about the implications of cancel culture and the role of shame in fostering deeper understanding and humility in society.
