Jane Fonda recalls how she fearlessly pushed away a wild bear to protect her grandson
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jane Fonda’s son, actor Troy O’Donovan Garity, recently revealed an extraordinary story about his mother’s bravery.
Speaking on the February 28 episode of Netflix’s 'Skip Intro' podcast, the 51-year-old recounted a time when Fonda encountered a wild bear inside her New Mexico home and boldly drove it away to protect her grandson.
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Jane Fonda's terrifying encounter with the wild bear
During the time of the incident, Jane Fonda was living “out in the wild” in New Mexico and caring for her grandson Malcolm, now 25, son of Vanessa Vadim.
One night, she heard an unusual noise and left the bedroom to investigate.
Upon returning, the 87-year-old actress was met with a terrifying sight, a bear had entered the bedroom, sniffing over the crib where her grandson lay sleeping.
“And when she came back in, the screen door was dismantled and there was a bear in the bedroom, sniffing over the crib,” said Garity.
Jane Fonda’s fearless response
Faced with imminent danger, Jane Fonda instinctively reacted to protect the infant.
Demonstrating her actions on the podcast, the 'Grace and Frankie' star let out a powerful roar and raised her hands to appear larger.
“She pushed a bear out of her bedroom,” Garity said, leaving podcast host Krista Smith stunned. Fonda, seated beside her son, nodded in confirmation.
“I had just learned what to do if you’re close to a bear. And that was it. Get very big. I opened my bathrobe," the actress explained.
The tactic worked. The startled bear urinated on the rug before retreating to the door, where Fonda physically pushed it out of the house.
“And then [it] walked back to the door and sat down and I did, I pushed it out, yeah,” she recounted.
Jane Fonda's legacy of strength and courage
Jane Fonda is known not only for her illustrious Hollywood career but also for her fierce activism and strong-willed personality.
She has three children, Garity, 51; Vanessa, 56, from her marriage to Roger Vadim; and Mary Luana Williams, 57.
The Academy Award-winning actress remains close to her family and has been seen attending high-profile events with them.
In April 2024, she brought her granddaughter Viva, 22, as her guest to the TIME Earth Awards Gala in New York City.
More recently, Garity proudly accompanied his actress mother as she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st annual SAG Awards, according to People.
