Women will resort to ‘murder’ to protect their autonomy: Jane Fonda

News

By Katherine Donlevy

March 10, 2023 | 7:24 p.m.

“Hanoi Jane” is back.

Decorated actress and controversial activist Jane Fonda suggested Friday on “The View” that American women may resort to “murder” to regain autonomy over their bodies in the wake of the Roe v. Wade.

The Oscar-winning actress made the comment when asked by the hosts what else she could do but demonstrate and protest to stop the recent spread of abortion-limiting laws in many states.

“Well, I thought about murder,” Fonda joked, in a comment that may have been lost in crosstalk until Lily Tomlin asked her to repeat herself.

“Murder,” Fonda reiterated emphatically.

The topic came up during an appearance with his ’80s for Brady’ co-star Tomlin which began with the show’s panel asking if the duo would be able to film a sequel to their iconic 1980 film ‘9 to 5. “.

The leading ladies said it would be difficult – but not impossible – due to declining workers’ rights and the limitations imposed by contract work.

The 85-year-old took the opportunity to shift the conversation to a discussion of the recent limitations some states have placed on abortion since the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Roe.

“We have had the experience, for several decades now, of having power over our bodies and being able to determine when and how many children they have,” Fonda said after accepting Tomlin’s statement that the county “regresses”.

“We know what it looks like. We know what it has done for our lives. We are not going back. I don’t care about laws. We won’t be going back.

The audience erupted in applause, but the panel only smiled and attributed the comment to “Jane’s activism.”

Sunny Hostin joked that her position would win her a Nobel Prize.

Joy Behar challenged Fonda and asked her how she could bring about change other than through marches and protests, protests that Fonda has participated in — and been arrested for her involvement — for the past several decades.

That’s when Fonda made her “murder” comment, prompting the panel to burst out uncomfortably laughing and quickly try to move the conversation along.

“Don’t say that,” Tomlin warned.

“She’s joking. Wait a second… They’ll figure it out and get away with it. She’s kidding,” Behar said aloud, though Fonda kept a serious, unsmiling look on her face.

As expected, the Conservatives’ reaction was swift.

Mercedes Schlapp, a former Trump administration White House aide, accused Fonda of “incitement to violence” against pro-life politicians.

Rep. Majorie Greene (R-GA) said she would flag Fonda for her statements and The View for airing them, before saying bluntly to Fonda: “Your eggs have dried up so you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant anytime soon, so you can retire from baby killing now.”

Fonda, a lifelong provocateur who earned the nickname “Hanoi Jane” after visiting North Vietnamese troops during the 1972 war, stood her ground in an interview with the Daily Beast.

“Although women’s reproductive rights are a very serious and extremely important issue for me, my comment on View was obviously done in jest,” Fonda said.

“My body language and tone made it clear to those in the room – and anyone watching – that I was using hyperbole to make a point.”

Fonda – who was arrested during a climate protest in 2019 – recently apologized for her trip to Hanoi, during which she was sadly photographed sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun in an image that led to numerous convictions in the United States.