Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Jane Fonda

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Jane Fonda.

Jane Fonda is a highly acclaimed American actress and activist with a career spanning over seven decades. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Additionally, she has been nominated for a Grammy Award and two Tony Awards. Fonda's contributions have been recognized with honorary awards such as the Honorary Palme d'Or, the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1965: Americans Travel to North Vietnam

Beginning in 1965 and continuing until 1972, almost 300 Americans – mostly civil rights activists, teachers, and pastors – traveled to North Vietnam.

August 1966: Playboy Lawsuit

In August 1966, Jane Fonda sued Playboy magazine for publishing paparazzi shots taken on the set of her film without her consent.

1967: Communications Monitored

Between 1967 and 1973, Jane Fonda's communications were monitored by the NSA as part of Project MINARET.

November 2, 1970: Arrest at Cleveland Airport

On November 2, 1970, Jane Fonda was arrested at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking. The charges were dropped after the pills seized were confirmed to be vitamins.

1970: Fonda's Arrest Mugshot

In 1970, Jane Fonda had her arrest mugshot taken. In 2017, Fonda began selling merchandise featuring her 1970 arrest mugshot on her website, with the proceeds benefiting GCAPP.

1970: Anti-war rally appearance

In 1970, Jane Fonda was photographed at an anti-war rally that John Kerry also attended. This photo was later used during the 2004 election to disparage Kerry.

July 1972: Visit to North Vietnam

In July 1972, Jane Fonda visited North Vietnam and traveled to Hanoi to witness the bombing damage to the dikes. She later stated that the United States had been intentionally targeting the dike system along the Red River.

1972: Trip to North Vietnam

During a 60 Minutes interview on March 31, 2005, Jane Fonda reiterated that she had no regrets about her trip to North Vietnam in 1972, with the exception of the anti-aircraft-gun photo. She stated that the incident was a "betrayal" of American forces and of the "country that gave me privilege".

1973: Communications Monitored

Between 1967 and 1973, Jane Fonda's communications were monitored by the NSA as part of Project MINARET.

1973: Yves Lacoste Published Analysis

In 1973, French geographer Yves Lacoste published an analysis in which he concluded that the dike system in North Vietnam was intentionally targeted in the eastern region of the delta during bombings.

1973: Statement on Torture Claims

In 1973, Jane Fonda told The New York Times, "I'm quite sure that there were incidents of torture ... but the pilots who were saying it was the policy of the Vietnamese and that it was systematic, I believe that's a lie."

2004: Used as epithet against John Kerry

During the 2004 presidential election, Jane Fonda's name was used as a disparaging epithet against John Kerry, and a photo of them at a 1970 anti-war rally was circulated. A faked composite photograph was also circulated.

March 31, 2005: 60 Minutes Interview

During a 60 Minutes interview on March 31, 2005, Jane Fonda reiterated that she had no regrets about her trip to North Vietnam in 1972, with the exception of the anti-aircraft-gun photo.

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July 2005: Planned anti-war bus tour

In July 2005, Jane Fonda planned an anti-war bus tour with her daughter and families of military veterans for March 2006, but she later canceled it due to concerns that it would divert attention from Cindy Sheehan's activism.

2005: Tobacco Incident

In 2005, Michael A. Smith spat chewing tobacco in Jane Fonda's face during a book-signing event for her autobiography, My Life So Far, in Kansas City, Missouri.

2005: Autobiography on Anti-Aircraft Gun Photo

In her 2005 autobiography, Jane Fonda wrote about being photographed seated on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun and said that she was manipulated into sitting on the battery, horrified at the implications of the pictures.

March 2006: Cancellation of anti-war bus tour

In March 2006, Jane Fonda's planned anti-war bus tour, initially scheduled for this month with her daughter and families of military veterans, was canceled due to concerns about overshadowing Cindy Sheehan's activism.

September 2009: Protest of Tel Aviv Spotlight at Toronto International Film Festival

In September 2009, Jane Fonda was among 1,500 signatories of a letter protesting the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival's spotlight on Tel Aviv, claiming it was part of "the Israeli propaganda machine."

2009: Allegations of White House Involvement

In 2009, Jane Fonda wrote that she believed her 1970 arrest was influenced by the Nixon White House in an attempt to ruin her respectability.

2011: Explanation on Website

In a 2011 entry on her official website, Jane Fonda further explained the circumstances surrounding the photo of her seated on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.

2013: NSA Monitoring Revealed

In 2013, it was revealed that Jane Fonda was one of approximately 1,600 Americans whose communications between 1967 and 1973 were monitored by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) as part of Project MINARET.

April 2016: Fonda predicts Hillary Clinton's victory and a backlash

In April 2016, Fonda expressed support for Bernie Sanders but predicted Hillary Clinton would win the presidential election and believed that her win would result in a "violent backlash."

2017: Criticism of Justin Trudeau on Oil Development

In 2017, Jane Fonda criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for betraying commitments made at the Paris Agreement regarding climate change and treaties with indigenous people.

2017: Criticism of Trump's Pipeline Mandate

In 2017, Jane Fonda criticized President Donald Trump's mandate to resume construction of the North Dakota Pipelines, arguing that he did so illegally because he had not obtained consent from the affected Native American tribes.

October 2019: Arrests at Climate Change Protests

In October 2019, Jane Fonda was arrested three times in consecutive weeks for protesting climate change outside the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

2024: Jane Fonda Day Controversy

In 2024, Los Angeles County initially tried to name April 30 as "Jane Fonda Day" for her environmental work, but it was moved to April 8 due to backlash from the Vietnamese American community because it fell on the same day as Black April.