Jane Fonda Questions Barbra Streisand's Oscars Tribute to Robert Redford
Jane Fonda has publicly expressed her confusion and disappointment after Barbra Streisand was selected to deliver an onstage tribute to the late Robert Redford during the 98th Academy Awards' In Memoriam segment. The iconic actress and activist, who starred alongside Redford in four films over five decades, questioned the Academy's decision during an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party.
"I Have More to Say": Fonda's Red Carpet Comments
"I wanna know how come Streisand was up there doing that for Redford?" Fonda, 88, asked reporters. "She only made one movie with him, I made four. I have more to say." Fonda's cinematic collaborations with Redford spanned from 1966's The Chase to 2017's Our Souls at Night, also including Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman.
The Academy has not provided any immediate comment regarding why Fonda was not chosen to speak during the tribute to Redford, who passed away in September at age 89. Fonda described her deep personal connection to Redford, stating, "I was always in love with him. The most gorgeous human being and such great values and he did a lot for movies. He really changed movies, lifted up independent movies."
Streisand's Emotional Tribute and Performance
Barbra Streisand, 83, delivered an emotional speech honoring her The Way We Were co-star during Sunday's ceremony. She described Redford as "thoughtful and bold," calling him "an intellectual cowboy who blazed his own trail." Streisand reflected on their playful on-screen chemistry, noting, "He was a brilliant, subtle actor. And we had a wonderful time playing off each other because we never quite knew what the other one was going to do in the scene."
Following her speech, Streisand performed "The Way We Were" for the first time at the Oscars since her 2013 tribute to composer Marvin Hamlisch. The performance added a poignant layer to the evening's memorial segment, which was hosted by Conan O'Brien.
Fonda's Previous Tribute and Legacy Comments
In a statement released after Redford's death, Fonda expressed profound grief, writing, "It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can't stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for." Both Fonda and Streisand highlighted Redford's significant legacy of activism and his transformative impact on independent cinema through the Sundance Institute.
Broader Oscars Memorial Segment
The 2026 Oscars In Memoriam segment featured multiple emotional tributes beyond Redford's. Billy Crystal honored the late director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, while Rachel McAdams delivered a speech remembering Diane Keaton. The segment also paid respects to Catherine O'Hara, Diane Ladd, Robert Duvall, and several other Hollywood luminaries, creating what many viewers described as one of the most devastating memorial segments in recent years.
