Jane Fonda Slams Billionaires and Trump at Venice DVF Awards

At 88 years old, legendary actress and activist Jane Fonda arrived at the Venice Film Festival for Diane von Furstenberg’s DVF Awards to deliver a sharp rebuke of Hollywood politics, corporate monopolies, and elite ambition, declaring bluntly that she is not afraid of Donald Trump.

The Bottom Line

• The Anti-Fonda Blacklist: Fonda stated at the DVF Awards that a modern Hollywood blacklist is active, specifically pointing to Larry Ellison allegedly targeting Mark Ruffalo over the actor’s criticism of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
• Zero Fear of Trump: Addressing the political climate, the 88-year-old Oscar winner asserted that Trump “can do nothing to me” and that she refuses to be intimidated.
• Critique of the Billionaire Class: Beyond politics, Fonda slammed “tech bros, oligarchs, and billionaires” for chasing immortality while harming ordinary workers.

Challenging the Corporate Machine and Hollywood Blacklists

Jane Fonda isn’t interested in playing polite industry politics. Speaking ahead of her honor at the 17th annual DVF Awards on Thursday, the two-time Oscar winner turned her considerable cultural weight toward the inner workings of studio boardrooms and political pressure campaigns, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety reporting.

When pressed by journalists about whether a modern blacklist operates within the entertainment industry—specifically regarding actor Mark Ruffalo—Fonda didn’t mince words. “Absolutely. I mean, this is a tactic that they’re using,” she stated, as reported by Primetimer. She tied the blacklist directly to executive retaliation, alleging that Larry Ellison accused Ruffalo of antisemitism simply because the Avengers star voiced opposition to the massive proposed corporate merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Ruffalo had previously criticized the pending $110 billion deal, arguing that corporate giants are crushing workers and consolidating wealth. In response, Paramount issued a public statement accusing the actor of invoking antisemitic tropes by referencing Oracle-linked technology in geopolitical conflicts. Fonda pushed back against the studio’s defensive framing, calling for industry-wide solidarity. “Mark is part of a movement. He’s not alone,” Fonda said. “This is a time when we have to stick together.”

Stands Against Political Pressure and Billionaire Ambitions

Fonda’s defiance extended far beyond studio mergers. Decades into an activism career that began when she was 33, the veteran actress addressed the climate surrounding Donald Trump’s reemergence in national politics. Asked if it has grown harder to speak out, Fonda dismissed the premise entirely.

“No. I’ve had my life. He can do nothing to me. I’m not scared,” she shared, while carefully acknowledging that younger or less established industry professionals might not share her insulation or privilege.

Here is the kicker: Fonda’s critique wasn’t just political; it was existential. Turning her sights on the ultra-wealthy, she slammed the elite’s obsession with life extension. “They want to live forever, while they’re killing the rest of us,” the 88-year-old said, taking direct aim at tech oligarchs and billionaires who believe they can outpace natural laws while deploying disruptive technologies like robotics that threaten human labor and freedom of choice.

Key Issues Highlighted by Jane Fonda at the 2026 DVF Awards

Subject	Fonda’s Stance	Key Context
The Paramount-WBD Merger	Opposed	Criticized the deal as harmful to consumers and workers; warned of media consolidation.
Hollywood Blacklisting	Confirmed Active	Accused executives of using false allegations to punish dissenters like Mark Ruffalo.
Political Intimidation	Unafraid	Stated Donald Pump can do nothing to her, refusing self-censorship.
Tech Oligarchs	Condemned	Slammed billionaire pursuits of immortality and disruptive robotics at the expense of workers.

The Broader Battle for Independent Media and Labor

Fonda’s Venice appearance aligns with a broader chorus of high-profile voices pushing back against corporate consolidation and the erosion of independent journalism. Earlier, figures like George Clooney also used festival platforms to spotlight the threats facing a free press. Meanwhile, the legal battles surrounding the media landscape continue to mount. The proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. acquisition faces intense antitrust scrutiny, including lawsuits filed by 12 U.S. states and the Writers Guild of America, with a joint trial scheduled to begin in March 2027.

Photo: primetimer.com

By reviving historic organizing models—such as her recent efforts mirroring the Committee for the First Amendment—Fonda continues to remind an increasingly risk-averse Hollywood that worker solidarity remains the ultimate counterweight to executive overreach. Whether studio executives choose to heed her warning about solidarity or continue pushing aggressive consolidation strategies remains the central tension of the current entertainment economy.

As the industry watches antitrust litigation play out over the coming months, Fonda’s uncompromising stance leaves little room for middle ground. Where do you stand on the growing corporate consolidation of Hollywood media? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.