Sean Penn has recently expressed that he has "no apologies" for a controversial immigration joke he made while presenting the Best Picture award at the Oscars.

The joke prompted a storm of outrage from critics who branded the comments xenophobic, but the 54-year-old actor said the only reason anyone could be offended is their own "flagrant stupidity," ABC News reported.

According to Penn, the jibe was part of his friendship with Alejandro Inarritu, with whom he has worked in the past, and even a way to let him know of his victory seconds before everyone else. The American actor also clarified that the order of his comments were intentional.