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 celebrated American actress and activist, renowned for her extensive career spanning film and television across multiple genres. Her achievements include two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. She has also received nominations for a Grammy and two Tony Awards. Fonda's contributions have been further acknowledged with prestigious lifetime achievement awards such as the Honorary Palme d'Or (2007), the AFI Life Achievement Award (2014), the Golden Lion (2017), the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2021), and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (2025).

Sections (6)

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

1967: Start of NSA Monitoring

From 1967, Jane Fonda's communications were monitored by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) as part of Project MINARET.

November 2, 1970: Arrest at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

On November 2, 1970, Jane Fonda was arrested at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking after returning from an anti-war speaking tour in Canada. The charges were later dropped when the pills were identified as vitamins.

1970: Anti-War Rally Attendance

In 1970, Jane Fonda attended an anti-war rally with John Kerry, although they were not together on stage. A composite photograph was circulated to falsely suggest they shared a speaker's platform.

1970: Jane Fonda's arrest

In 1970, Jane Fonda was arrested, and this event would later be used to create merchandise for charity.

July 1972: Visit to North Vietnam and allegations of bombing

In July 1972, Jane Fonda visited North Vietnam, traveled to Hanoi, and alleged that the United States was intentionally targeting the dike system along the Red River. She toured and photographed the damage.

1972: North Vietnam Trip

In 1972, Jane Fonda took a trip to North Vietnam. In a later interview in 2005, she stated that she had no regrets about the trip.

1973: Fonda's comments on POW torture claims

In 1973, Jane Fonda commented on the stories of torture of returning POWs, stating that those making such claims were "hypocrites and liars and pawns", and that systematic torture was a lie. This led to persistent rumors of POWs being coerced into meeting with her.

1973: End of NSA Monitoring

Until 1973, Jane Fonda's communications were monitored by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) as part of Project MINARET.

2004: Use as Disparaging Epithet Against John Kerry

In 2004, during the presidential election, Jane Fonda's name was used as a disparaging epithet against John Kerry, with the Republican National Committee Chairman calling Kerry a "Jane Fonda Democrat."

March 31, 2005: 60 Minutes Interview

On March 31, 2005, in a 60 Minutes interview, Jane Fonda reiterated that she had no regrets about her trip to North Vietnam in 1972, except for the anti-aircraft gun photo, which she called a "betrayal."

July 2005: Planning of an Anti-War Bus Tour

In July 2005, Jane Fonda planned an anti-war bus tour with her daughter and military veterans' families for March 2006, but later cancelled it to avoid diverting attention from Cindy Sheehan's activism.

2005: Assault at book signing

In 2005, Michael A. Smith, a U.S. Navy veteran, spat chewing tobacco in Jane Fonda's face at a book-signing event for her autobiography, 'My Life So Far', in Kansas City, Missouri. He stated that he considered it a debt of honor.

2005: Autobiography on the anti-aircraft gun photo

In her 2005 autobiography, Jane Fonda wrote that she felt manipulated into sitting on the North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun and was horrified by the implications of the photo.

March 2006: Cancellation of Anti-War Bus Tour

In March 2006, Jane Fonda's planned anti-war bus tour was scheduled but later cancelled due to concerns that she would divert attention from Cindy Sheehan's activism.

January 27, 2007: Participation in Anti-War Rally

On January 27, 2007, Jane Fonda participated in an anti-war rally and march in Washington, D.C., declaring that "silence is no longer an option." She spoke at a rally at the Navy Memorial, where counter-protesters were present.

September 2009: Protest Against Toronto Film Festival's Spotlight on Tel Aviv

In September 2009, Jane Fonda was among over 1,500 signatories protesting the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival's spotlight on Tel Aviv, arguing it was part of an Israeli propaganda campaign.

2009: Fonda's allegations about the White House

In 2009, Jane Fonda wrote about her 1970 arrest, alleging that the arresting officer told her he was acting on orders from the Nixon White House to discredit her.

2011: Fonda's explanation of the anti-aircraft gun photo on her website

In 2011, Jane Fonda provided an explanation on her official website regarding the circumstances surrounding the photograph of her sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.

2013: Revelation of NSA Monitoring

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

2015: Opposition to Arctic Drilling and Participation in Climate March

In 2015, Jane Fonda expressed disapproval of President Barack Obama's Arctic drilling policy at the Sundance Film Festival. In July, she participated in the "March for Jobs, Justice, and Climate" in Toronto to highlight the link between climate change and other issues.

April 2016: Prediction about the 2016 Presidential Election

In April 2016, Jane Fonda expressed support for Bernie Sanders but predicted Hillary Clinton would win the presidency and face a violent backlash. She also emphasized the need to help men understand why they feel threatened and to change the way masculinity is viewed.

2017: Criticism of North Dakota Pipeline Construction

In 2017, Jane Fonda criticized American President Donald Trump's mandate to resume construction of the North Dakota Pipelines, stating that it was illegal because it lacked consent from the affected indigenous tribes and violated treaties.

2017: Criticism of Justin Trudeau's Environmental Policies

In 2017, Jane Fonda criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for allegedly betraying commitments made at the Paris Agreement on climate change and treaties with indigenous people, while protesting oil developments with Greenpeace.

2017: Fonda reveals past sexual abuse

In 2017, Jane Fonda disclosed in an interview with People magazine that she had been raped, sexually abused as a child, and fired for refusing to sleep with her boss. Fonda emphasized that these experiences were not her fault and highlighted the importance of the women's movement in helping victims understand this.

October 2019: Arrests at Climate Change Protests

In October 2019, Jane Fonda was arrested multiple times during consecutive weeks while protesting climate change outside the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., often with fellow actors and members of Oil Change International.

2024: Los Angeles County and Jane Fonda Day

In 2024, Los Angeles County initially planned to name April 30 as "Jane Fonda Day" for her environmental work, but it faced backlash from the Vietnamese American community due to its overlap with Black April. The date was later moved to April 8.