Jane Fonda savages Trump and reminds everyone the correct meaning of woke in blinding SAG Awards speech
Fans said she was 'the Queen.'
Jane Fonda took a swipe at Donald Trump and defended being woke during an impassioned and moving SAG Awards speech.
On Sunday night, the 87-year-old accepted the lifetime achievement award and used her platform to stress the importance of empathy during this politically and socially tumultuous time.
In her blinding speech, the actress-activist also reminded everyone that the correct meaning of woke – which has become a loaded word – is caring about others
‘Make no mistake,’ Jane fired off at the Shrine Auditorium in LA. ‘Empathy is not weak or woke – and by the way, woke just means you give a damn about other people.’
Referring to Trump’s second term as US president, the Klute star said ‘many will be ‘really hurt’ by his actions but urged everyone to be empathetic to those with different political views.
Jane said: ‘A whole lot of people are gonna be really hurt by what is happening; what is coming our way. And even if they are of a different political persuasion, we need to call upon our empathy and not judge, but listen from our hearts, and welcome them into our tent. Because we are gonna need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us.’
The actress-activist also gave the correct definition of woke (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Previous Page Next PageShe continued: ‘We must not isolate. We must stay in community. We must help the vulnerable. We must find ways to project an inspiring vision of the future – one that is beckoning, welcoming, that will help people believe that, to quote the novelist Pearl Cleage, “On the other side of the conflagration, there will still be love. There will still be beauty, and there will be an ocean of truth for us to swim in.” Let’s make it so.’
Jane certainly won the internet with her speech, with X user @ghostinkissys among the many saying: ‘Woke just means you give a damn about other people” JANE FONDA I LOVE U #SAGAWARDS.’
Echoing their sentiment, @JohnMartinPugh exclaimed: ‘Yes Jane Fonda. Spending her lifetime achievement award speech telling people off and saying what needed to be said #SAGAwards.’
@laursyywaursyy said: ‘Jane Fonda’s words really hitting hard, and I’m not even American! What a QUEEN #SAGAwardsOnNetflix#SAGAwards.’
Jane made reference to a fractured America after Trump’s second ascension as president (Picture: Getty)@finelytaylored added: ‘Jane Fonda is the greatest of all time. she is WALKING THE WALK when so many people are too afraid to even talk the talk. #SAGAwards.’
When Jane was announced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the recipient of the lifetime achievement award, she received a standing ovation from the crowd.
She began her acceptance speech by insisting the accolade ‘means the world to me.’
‘Your enthusiasm makes this seem less like a late-twilight-of-my-life [moment] and more like a, “Go girl, kick ass [one].” Which is good, because I’m not done,’ she smiled.
Fonda is equally known for her activism – which has seen her arrested (Picture: Kypros/Getty Images)Jane went on to describe herself as a ‘late bloomer’ in Hollywood and asserted she is a ‘big believer in unions’ as they represent community.
She said: ‘They have our backs. They bring us into community and they give us power. Community means power, and this is really important right now when workers’ power is being attacked and community is being weakened.
‘But SAG-AFTRA is different than most other unions because us, the workers, we actors, we don’t manufacture anything tangible. What we create is empathy.
‘Our job is to understand another human being so profoundly that we can touch their souls. We know why they do what they do; we feel their joys and their pain.’
Jane was hailed as a ‘queen’ by the internet for her speech (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)Two-time Oscar-winner Jane – whose best-known film roles include Klute, Coming Home and On Golden Pond – was one of the main figures of the 1960s counterculture movement and staunchly opposed the Vietnam War.
She has recently dedicated her time to raising awareness of climate change.
At the SAG Awards, which is considered a bellwether for the Oscars, Demi Moore, Timothee Chalamet and papal drama Conclave were the big winners.
Demi, 62, picked up the leading actress award for body horror The Substance while Timothee 29, secured the leading actor prize for Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
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