After their four-year marriage ended in 1989, Sean Penn responded to Madonna’s past claim that he was “the love of her life” — a remark she made in her 1991 documentary Truth or Dare. In a recent interview on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Penn, now 64, said: “It didn’t take us long to realise that we had mistaken a good first date for a wedding partner.” He added that they recovered their friendship about a year after divorcing, and while their marriage was turbulent and fueled by alcohol, he has “a lot of fond memories” of it.

Fans were shocked by Penn’s current appearance during the interview, commenting on his tired look and visible facial bruise. Many noted he looked much older than his age.

Penn also addressed long-standing rumors of abuse during his marriage to Madonna. Both he and Madonna have denied any physical violence. In 2015, she testified in his defense during a defamation lawsuit against Empire creator Lee Daniels, stating Sean “never struck me, tied me up, or physically assaulted me.” Penn explained that a SWAT team once raided their home after Madonna reportedly called police, but no violence occurred.

Today, the former couple maintains a friendly relationship — something Penn says was easier to rebuild because they never had children together.