Jane Fonda Recalls "Painful" Crush on Robert Redford & Clarifies Streisand Oscars Comment

​Hollywood legend Jane Fonda made a heartfelt appearance at the opening night of the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 30. During the event, she opened up about her lifelong admiration for the late Robert Redford and finally clarified her viral comment regarding Barbra Streisand’s Oscars tribute.

​A "Painful" Lifelong Crush

​The festival’s opening night celebrated the iconic 1967 romantic comedy Barefoot in the Park. In a candid conversation with Ben Mankiewicz, Fonda described Redford as "the most gorgeous human" she had ever met. She confessed that her longtime crush on him was, in her own words, "genuinely painful."

​"He was the only person I made four movies with," Fonda shared, adding that she would have done many more if given the chance.

​The Oscars Controversy: Fonda vs. Streisand?

​During the Academy Awards in March 2026, Barbra Streisand performed an emotional rendition of The Way We Were as a tribute to Redford. At an after-party, Fonda quipped that she had "more to say" about Redford than Streisand did, sparking rumors of a Hollywood rivalry.

​However, at the TCM Festival, Fonda cleared the air:

• ​It was just a joke: She explained she was simply "being funny."
• ​Pure Admiration: She called Streisand’s performance "fabulous" and noted the song's iconic status.
• ​The Final Word: She concluded warmly, "Bob would have liked it."

​A Wild First Meeting

​Fonda also shared a charming story from the set of their 1966 film, The Chase. When she jokingly asked Redford about having an affair, he humorously replied that if he were to have one, "it would be with someone reckless." She remembered him as someone who was fun, wild, and famously "liked fast cars."

​What do you think? Was Jane Fonda’s original comment just a joke, or did it carry a hint of rivalry? Let us know in the comments below!