Jane Fonda Accepts BAFTA Award While Cuffed

The legendary actor and life-long activist won’t let a little thing like getting arrested stop her.

  • Author: Ryan Killian Krause

Jane Fonda keeps getting arrested. Following in the footsteps of the awe-inspiring Greta Thunberg, the Grace & Frankie actress and V68 cover star has spent the last three Fridays on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. protesting our government’s inaction against the crises we face due to climate change with Fire Drill Fridays. Each time, she’s been arrested for unlawful demonstrating.

This past Friday, Fonda was set to accept the Stanley Kubrick award for excellence in film during BAFTA LA’s annual celebration, something which might be difficult given the fact that she was across the country and under arrest. Why should that stop her, though? As she was being escorted to the police car, Fonda – ever the icon – turned to a camera and thanked BAFTA for the honor, which was shown during the ceremony on Friday evening.

“I’m so honored. I can’t even believe it. I’m so grateful. It’s thrilling and I’m sorry I’m not there, but as you may have heard, I’ve been getting arrested,” Fonda said in the message that played onscreen at the event. “I decided I need to do more about climate change. And so I moved to DC for four months, trying to heighten the sense of urgency that there needs to be.”

Fonda is no stranger to protests…or arrests. She was surveilled by the United States government in the 1960s and 70s due to her support of and fundraising for the Black Panthers. She’s also been part of protests supporting Native Americas for decades, including occupations in both Fort Lawton in Seattle and Alcatraz Island. More recently, she spent Thanksgiving 2016 with the protestors trying to block the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock.

Most infamously, she earned the nickname Hanoi Jane after she was photographed on an anti-aircraft gun in Hanoi while touring North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Fonda vocally opposed the war, going as far as to appeal to U.S. troops to rethink their involvement in the conflict via radio broadcast. The photo caused an immense backlash in the States.

Fonda has pledged to continue her Friday protests until the end of the year. Originally, she intended to protest for a year straight but was unable due to contractual obligations with Netflix. Fonda’s also started bringing her famous friends to the Capitol steps with her. Last week it was Ted Danson. The week before it was her Grace & Frankie co-star Sam Waterston. Who’s next?

Discover More