Last night, Jane Fonda showed why she remains the most endearing and enduring figure in both entertainment and politics. The occasion? The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Receiving a Life Achievement Award was testament enough. But it was the rousing speech the 87-year-old icon delivered that stole the show.

Empathy is not weak — and it’s not ‘woke’

Fonda opened with a disarming mix of humor and self-awareness, calling herself a “late bloomer” in Hollywood. She acknowledged her surreal 15-year hiatus (as Ted’s wife), proving that reinvention is as much a part of her legacy as resistance.

Fonda then pivoted to the defining moment of the night. She addressed the political climate head-on, taking direct aim at the right-wing weaponization of “woke”:

Make no mistake, empathy is not weak or ‘woke’ — and by the way, ‘woke’ just means you give a damn about other people.

Her words were a blistering rebuke of Trumpism and conservative fear-mongering, drawing a thunderous standing ovation. Right-wing figures revel in smearing progressive values as radical. But Fonda flipped the script, reminding audiences that caring about others isn’t a flaw — it’s a strength. (You know, like DEI used to be).

Yet it never occurred to Kamala – or any 2024 Democrat – to reclaim “woke” with that kind of irresistible conviction.

Fonda’s place in history

Beyond her decades-long Hollywood career, Jane Fonda has long stood at the intersection of celebrity and activism. In 1972, she became as infamous for her opposition to the Vietnam War as she was famous for winning the Best Actress Oscar for Klute. But she deserves as much acclaim for championing climate action, civil rights, and women’s rights.

Fonda wasn’t there just to celebrate past achievements. She seized the moment to challenge prevailing apathy and complacency. She called on actors to use their platforms responsibly, likening today’s struggles to the McCarthy-era blacklists and warning, “This is it, and it’s not a rehearsal.”

A legacy of courage inspiring the next generation

Of course, this was Fonda standing on the shoulders of women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth – just as women like Cassidy Hutchinson and Danielle Sassoon now stand on hers. Women like them have always shown profiles in courage that make men in their midst count their manhoods cheap.

Fonda’s speech was a clarion call — not just to Hollywood, but to all who refuse to bow to authoritarianism. She’s been fighting the good fight for decades. And she made one thing clear: we ain’t seen nothing yet.