Hollywood icon Jane Fonda offered a surprising and heartfelt tribute to her former husband, media mogul Ted Turner, during a high-profile charity gala on Thursday evening. The emotional moment occurred at the 30th annual EmPower Party hosted by the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential (GCAPP), an organisation the actress helped establish.
A Grateful Acknowledgment
Fonda, elegantly dressed in a long black V-neck gown adorned with a floral sequin print and paired with pointed heels, took the opportunity to publicly thank her ex-husband. She revealed that Turner's unwavering love and support had been instrumental in ensuring the survival of their shared charitable venture during difficult times.
"It was a very challenging time in Georgia," Fonda told the audience. "Had I not been with Ted, this was something, had he not stood by me with his love and support, we never would have survived." Despite Turner, now 86, not being physically present at the event, Fonda made sure he was honoured among the recipients, stating, "Ted’s not here, but he is here in my heart and I know he is here in a lot of our hearts."
A Lasting Legacy and Past Relationships
The couple's philanthropic legacy dates back to 1995, when Fonda co-founded GCAPP. At that time, she had relocated to Georgia to be with Turner, placing her successful Hollywood career on hold. Their marriage lasted from 1991 until 2001, representing Fonda's third union.
Her marital history includes French filmmaker Roger Vadim, to whom she was married from 1965 to 1973 and with whom she shares daughter Vanessa, 57. She then wed activist Tom Hayden from 1973 to 1990, with whom she shares son Troy Garity, 52. Fonda has previously hinted in her documentary, Jane Fonda in Five Acts, that Turner was the love of her life, describing him as "sexy" and "brilliant."
Reflections on Marriage and Moving Forward
In recent years, Fonda has been remarkably candid about her views on marriage and personal life. She has stated unequivocally that she has no interest in marrying again, joking that a "successful marriage" remains the one achievement she hasn't accomplished. "I don't ever want to be married again," she confirmed to Page Six. "But it's something I wish I'd been better at."
The actress also humourously addressed her current personal life, noting that intimacy is no longer a priority. "No, zero. I don't have time," she revealed when asked if she still has sex. "I'm old and I've had so much of it, I don't need it right now because I'm too busy."
Following her decade with Turner, Fonda returned to Hollywood and found renewed success with the hit Netflix series Grace and Frankie. Meanwhile, Turner is currently battling Lewy Body Dementia. Fonda's poignant tribute at the gala underscores a complex relationship that has evolved beyond marriage into a lasting partnership centred on their shared commitment to charitable work in Georgia.
