RBG Leadership Award canceled after Barbra Streisand opposes honoring Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Dwight D Opperman Foundation has reportedly put a halt on Ruth Bader Ginsburg‘s leadership award, originally called Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Woman of Leadership Awards, after it received backlash from 2023’s winner Barbra Streisand.
The Hollywood Reporter reported that the 81-year-old actress opposed the foundation’s wish to honor Elon Musk and Keith Rupert Murdoch with the award.
Barbra Streisand ‘condemned’ Dwight D Opperman Foundation’s decision
Streisand posted on her Instagram, “I join the Ginsburg family in condemning the choice of honorees this year. I had the privilege of meeting Justice Ginsburg on several occasions, and I strongly doubt she would approve of these awardees.”
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The foundation's reason for their choice of potential honorees
In a statement, the foundation said on Monday, March 18, “The purpose of the RBG Leadership Award is to remember Justice Ginsburg and to honor her.”
It continued, “She changed America by teaching us that all are EQUAL. The opportunities available to millions of women in the last 50 years speak for itself. This year we selected leaders in different fields. We honored men for the first time. We thought RBG's teachings regarding EQUALITY should be practiced.”
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The foundation noted, “Keeping in mind that our goal is only to do good, the Foundation is not interested in creating controversy,” before adding, “While we believe each of the honorees is worthy of our respect for their leadership and their notable contributions, the Foundation has decided that the planned ceremony in April 2024 will be canceled.”
James Ginsburg blasts Dwight D Opperman Foundation
Earlier, the family members of the late Justice, who lost her life in 2020, have slammed the Dwight D Opperman Foundation’s decision.
Her son James Ginsburg shared, as per The Guardian, “I don’t want to speak to what our other plans might be if the foundation doesn’t see the wisdom of desisting and ending this desecration of my mother’s memory. But I will say that we will continue to fight this.”
He also noted, “The original purpose of the award was … to recognize an extraordinary woman who has exercised a positive and notable influence on society and served as an exemplary role model in both principles and practice.”
“And whether you want to discuss the wisdom of opening up that to men or not is one thing, but I think it would be hard-pressed to apply that description to people like Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch. And that’s why the family is so upset … and her clerk family …” James added.
