‘The View’: Jane Fonda Under Fire After Suggesting “Murder” Could Be A Way To Combat New Abortion Laws

By Greta Bjornson Twitter @greatbjornson

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Jane Fonda stopped by today’s episode of The View, where she delivered an impassioned takedown of anti-abortion laws and restrictions on women’s reproductive freedom.

The actress and activist got heated during a discussion about abortion on Friday’s (March 10) episode. After co-host Joy Behar mentioned Walgreen’s recent decision to stop carrying abortion pills in certain states, coupled with the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade, Fonda let loose.

“We have experienced many decades now of having agency over our body, of being able to determine when and how many children to have. We know what that feels like, we know what that’s done for our lives,” Fonda said. “We’re not going back. I don’t care what the laws are! We’re not going back.” 

“That’s the activist,” Sunny Hostin told her, while Behar added, “That’s Jane!” then asked her, “Besides marching and protesting, what else do you suggest?”

“Well, I’ve thought of murder,” Fonda quipped, then repeated, “Murder,” so the audience could hear her more clearly.

Behar scrambled to clarify, “She’s just kidding … They’ll pick up on that and just run with it. She’s just kidding.”

Fonda didn’t reply, just stared at Behar until Hostin moved the segment along. Her commentary of course stirred up plenty of fervor online, where figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene came after her and accused Fonda of “calling for us to be assassinated.” (As of this writing, “Jane Fonda” is the #5 trending topic on Twitter in the United States.)

Fonda replied in a statement this afternoon, which was shared with The Daily Beast.

“While women’s reproductive rights are a very serious issue and extremely important to me, my comment on The View was obviously made in jest. My body language and tone made it clear to those in the room—and to anyone watching—that I was using hyperbole to make a point,” she said.

She continued, “Women across the country are facing real threats when it comes to our bodies, and people lose faith in our mission to protect women when others choose to focus on tangential issues and passing jokes instead of the actual problem at hand.”

The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.