Jane Fonda’s Viral SAG Awards Speech Takes on Trump’s ‘Woke’ Stance
"'Woke' just means you give a damn about other people", she stated
In her acceptance speech at the 2025 SAG Awards, Jane Fonda, honored with the SAG Life Achievement Award, delivered a compelling message that intertwined her reflections on acting, empathy, and social activism.
Amid cheers from the audience, Fonda reflected on her «un-strategic» and «really weird career» spanning decades. She spoke about retiring for 15 years before making a comeback at 65, humorously calling herself «a late bloomer» in show business.
She emphasized the unique role of actors in fostering understanding, stating, «Our job is to understand another human being so profoundly that we can touch their souls.»
Fonda voiced her strong support for unions, emphasizing their role in protecting workers, fostering community, and empowering individuals. «Unions stand by us, unite us, and give us strength,» she stated. «Right now, as workers’ rights are under attack and communities are being fractured, that power is more crucial than ever.»
Fonda also addressed the often politicized term «woke,» clarifying, «Make no mistake, empathy is not weak or ‘woke.’ And, by the way, ‘woke’ just means you give a damn about other people.»
@entertainmenttonight Jane Fonda spoke from her heart while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the #SAGawards 🥹💓 #janefonda ♬ original sound – Entertainment Tonight
«Back to empathy: A whole lot of people are gonna be really hurt by what is happening; what is coming our way,» Fonda stated. «And even if they are of a different political persuasion, we need to call upon our empathy and not judge, but listen from our hearts, and welcome them into our tent. Because we are gonna need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us.»
Reflecting on historical social movements, she drew parallels to current societal challenges, urging her peers to remain courageous and united: «We must not isolate. We must stay in community. We must help the vulnerable.»
Despite technical difficulties during her speech, including microphone malfunctions, Fonda maintained her composure, incorporating the interruptions with humor and continuing her heartfelt message.
Concluding her speech, Fonda called for collective action and a hopeful vision for the future, inspiring those present to continue striving for truth, love, and beauty in the face of adversity.