Sean Penn speaks out about Madonna assault rumors: "She's someone I care deeply about"

Sean Penn is setting the record straight.

Penn has shared details of a heated moment in his marriage to Madonna, which lasted from 1985 to 1989. Despite both parties denying physical abuse allegations in recent years, rumors have persisted.

The New York Times reported that he said he had a SWAT team enter his house because Madonna had informed police that he possessed guns in the home, and she was worried.

"He recalled, "I said, 'I'm not coming out. I'm going to finish my breakfast,'" but then "windows were being broken all around the house, and they came in.""

He added, "They had me in handcuffs."

He said, "I didn't know what 'trussed up' meant when I heard reports that I had 'trussed her up like a turkey.'"

Penn discovered that the rumors had intensified when, following a "pleasant evening" with another woman, she gave him a cold stare and inquired about the incident involving Madonna being hit with a baseball bat.

I didn't understand what she was saying, but now I realize I'm not the tallest person. If I hit Mike Tyson with a baseball bat, he would need medical attention.

Despite the 35-year gap since their separation, Penn now considers Madonna as "someone I love." He remarks, "It's faster to mend a friendship following divorce when there are no children involved."

In 2015, Madonna addressed rumors about her marriage to Penn in an affidavit for a lawsuit Penn filed against Lee Daniels.

Daniels spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the criticism directed at actor Terrence Howard following his admission of physically abusing his wife. In a careless comment, Daniels compared Howard's actions to those of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn, which prompted Penn to file a $10 million defamation lawsuit against him, as reported by Variety.

In a statement for a lawsuit, Madonna stated that she is aware of the allegations against Sean that he has physically assaulted and abused her. She specifically mentioned an alleged incident that took place in June 1987, where Sean supposedly hit her with a baseball bat. Madonna stated that she knows the allegations in those and other reports to be completely false and malicious.

I am aware of allegations that Sean was arrested for domestic assault and battery against me in December 1989, but I know those allegations to be false. Although we had heated arguments during our marriage, Sean never physically assaulted me, tied me up, or committed any other form of domestic violence. Any report to the contrary is completely false, malicious, reckless, and outrageous.

In 2016, Daniels settled the suit with Penn and publicly apologized, while also making a donation to CORE, a charity founded by Penn.