The 2026 Academy Awards featured emotional tributes to Hollywood legends, however one second sparked surprising drama behind the scenes.
Jane Fonda brazenly questioned why Barbra Streisand was chosen to honor the late Robert Redford through the ceremony.
The remark shortly drew consideration, reigniting dialog in regards to the iconic actors’ shared historical past with the beloved movie star.
Jane Fonda Questions Barbra Streisand’s Position In Redford Tribute
Jane Fonda didn’t cover her frustration over the choice to have Barbra Streisand lead the Oscars tribute to Robert Redford.
Talking to Leisure Tonightthe veteran actress instructed she would have been a extra becoming option to honor the late Hollywood icon.
The rationale, she defined, was her lengthy skilled historical past with Redford. Fonda appeared alongside him in a number of movies over the many years, together with “Tall Story,” “The Chase,” “Barefoot within the Park,” and “The Electrical Horseman.”
“I need to understand how come Streisand was up there doing that for Redford,” Fonda mentioned to the outlet. “She solely made one film with him; I made 4!”
Jane Fonda Displays On Her Deep Bond With Robert Redford
Fonda additionally mirrored on the deep admiration she held for the late actor, making it clear that her connection to him prolonged past their collaborations.
“I used to be at all times in love with him,” she admitted.
She continued by praising his character and affect within the movie business, saying, “(He was) essentially the most beautiful human being and had such nice values. He did rather a lot for motion pictures — he lifted up unbiased motion pictures.”
Barbra Streisand Honors Robert Redford On Oscars Stage
Regardless of Jane Fonda’s remarks, Barbra Streisand delivered a heartfelt tribute to Redford through the Oscars’ In Memoriam phase. The singer and actress shared recollections from their time working collectively on the traditional 1973 romantic drama “The Manner We Had been.”
Recalling the casting course of, Streisand defined how Redford initially hesitated to take the position.
“After I learn the primary script of The Manner We Had been, I may solely think about one man within the position, and that was Robert Redford. However he turned it down as a result of he mentioned the character had no spine,” she informed the viewers, per the Day by day Mail.
She added that the script was revised a number of occasions earlier than he ultimately agreed to hitch the challenge.
She revealed, “He doesn’t stand for something, and he was proper. So many drafts later, Bob lastly agreed to do it. He was an excellent, delicate actor, and we had an exquisite time taking part in off one another as a result of we by no means fairly knew what the opposite one was going to do in a scene.”
Streisand additionally described the qualities that made Redford such a beloved determine in Hollywood.
“He was considerate and daring,” she mentioned. “I known as him just a little mental cowboy who blazed his personal path. I miss him now greater than ever.”
She concluded the tribute by performing the long-lasting music “The Manner We Had been” from their movie.
Jane Fonda And Robert Redford’s Lengthy Hollywood Historical past
Jane Fonda’s response probably stems from the deep historical past she shared with Redford on display screen.
Their collaborations spanned many years, starting with “Tall Story” in 1960 and persevering with via a number of memorable initiatives.
The 2 actors reunited as soon as extra later of their careers for the 2017 Netflix movie “Our Souls at Evening,” reminding audiences of their enduring chemistry.
Redford died in September on the age of 89, prompting tributes from most of the business’s greatest names.
His legacy as each an actor and champion of unbiased cinema has lengthy been acknowledged in Hollywood.
Fonda’s feedback had been proof of how a lot their partnership meant to her personally and professionally.
Barbra Streisand Beforehand Shared Emotional Phrases About Robert Redford
Streisand had additionally publicly honored Redford shortly after his passing in 2025.
In an emotional Instagram tributethe actress shared recollections of their time filming collectively.
“Day-after-day on the set of The Manner We Had been was thrilling, intense, and pure pleasure,” Streisand wrote in September 2025.
She additionally mirrored on the variations that made their partnership so memorable.
She mentioned, “We had been such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I used to be allergic to them! But, we saved looking for out extra about one another, identical to the characters within the film.”
Streisand continued to reward her late co-star, writing, “Bob was charismatic, clever, intense, at all times fascinating, and one of many most interesting actors ever. The final time I noticed him, when he got here to lunch, we mentioned artwork and determined to ship one another our first drawings.”
She concluded the tribute by expressing gratitude for his or her collaboration, noting, “He was certainly one of a sort, and I’m so grateful to have had the chance to work with him. #RobertRedford.”