Jane Fonda jabs at Barbra Streisand’s Oscars tribute to Robert Redford: 'She made 1 movie, I made 4'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jane Fonda is causing a stir by publicly asking why Barbra Streisand was chosen to honor the late Hollywood star Robert Redford at the 98th Academy Awards. The actress seems to think she would have been a better choice for the tribute.

Fonda's comments came after Streisand's emotional tribute at the 2026 Oscars, where she sang and spoke in honor of Redford, who was her co-star in the 1973 movie ‘The Way We Were.’

Jane Fonda praises Robert Redford and questions Barbra Streisand's tribute

Barbra Streisand took the stage at the 98th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, as part of the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment, to honor Redford, who died on Sept. 16, 2025, at the age of 89.

“I want to know how come Streisand was up there doing that for Redford?” Fonda, 88, quipped to Entertainment Tonight at an Oscar night party. 

She playfully added that Streisand, 83, “only made one movie with him, I made four! I have more to say.”

Fonda, who shared a decades-long professional and personal connection with Redford, said she was surprised by the Academy’s decision.

Fonda’s comments quickly gained attention, not just for their blunt tone but for highlighting her long history with Redford.

Fonda said she “was always in love with him,” adding that he was “the most gorgeous human being”  with “such great values.” She added, “He did a lot for movies, he really changed movies, lifted up independent movies.”

Barbra Streisand honours Robert Redford at the Oscars

Streisand and Redford co-starred in the 1973 romance drama ‘The Way We Were,’ directed by Sydney Pollack.

She gave a moving tribute to the actor-filmmaker on stage at the 2026 Oscars ceremony hosted by Conan O'Brien.

This was followed by a rare live performance of the hit song ‘The Way We Were,’ which she hadn't performed in over 10 years since singing it at the Oscars in honor of composer Marvin Hamlisch.

This time, Barbra Streisand delivered the heartfelt performance in memory of her late co-star.

"He was a brilliant, subtle actor,” Streisand said onstage of Redford. “And we had a wonderful time playing off each other because we never quite knew what the other one was going to do in the scene."

Streisand’s tribute drew widespread praise during the ceremony.

Redford, who died in 2025 at age 89, was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern cinema, known for both his acting and his role in promoting independent film.

The In Memoriam segment at the 2026 Oscars also included other Hollywood heavyweights, such as Rob Reiner, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Catherine O'Hara, Val Kilmer, Robert Duvall and more.