SAG Awards 2025: Jane Fonda’s Priceless Reaction to Audio Malfunction Proves She’s the Ultimate Icon

After singing the praises of SAG-AFTRA and deftly handling the audio malfunction, she returned to the subject of empathy, because, she said, “a whole lot of people are going to be really hurt by what is happening, what is coming our way. And even if they’re of a different political persuasion, we have to call upon our empathy and not judge, but listen from our hearts and welcome them to our tent—and we are going to need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us.”

She called this “our documentary moment,” and “it’s not a rehearsal.”

In finding out she’d be this year’s recipient, Fonda said that, after working in the industry for almost her whole life, “there’s no honor like the one bestowed by you on your peers.”

“SAG-AFTRA works tirelessly to protect the working actor and to ensure that union members are being treated equitably in all areas,” she noted, “and I am proud to be a member as we continue to work to protect generations of performers to come.”

Recent recipients of the honor include Barbra Streisand, Sally Field, Helen Mirren and Robert De Niro. Fonda’s dear friend and 9 to 5 costar Lily Tomlin received the award in 2016.

See the full list of winners from the 2025 SAG Awards: