Jane Fonda and Gisèle Pelicot shared an embrace backstage at the Goldoni Theatre in Venice during the DVF Awards ceremony, in a moment captured as the two women held hands, hugged and exchanged a kiss.
The actress and the French woman who became a global symbol of the fight against sexual violence were pictured together in what onlookers described as a spontaneous show of warmth and solidarity between women.
Fonda said Pelicot was incredibly brave, adding that she had managed to declare she would not be a victim, according to the Italian edition of Vanity Fair.
DVF Leadership Award
Fonda and Pelicot were both honored with the DVF Leadership Award at the 17th edition of the awards, created by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, who is best known for inventing the wrap dress. The prize recognizes women whose actions and work help improve the lives of other women.
Von Furstenberg said the awards were created to support women who have the courage to fight, the strength to survive, and the ability to lead and inspire.
Gisèle Pelicot's case
Pelicot became an international symbol of courage after waiving her right to anonymity during the high-profile trial over rapes she suffered for years while her former husband drugged her without her knowledge.
She insisted the proceedings be held publicly, sending a message that shame should fall on perpetrators rather than victims. Her stance sparked a wider international debate about consent, sexual violence and the rights of survivors.
Jane Fonda's activism
Fonda has long paired her decades-long film career with activism, taking an active role for years in movements for women's rights, social justice and environmental protection.
Other honorees in Venice
This year's ceremony also honored Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, the country's first woman to hold the office; award-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario, known for her coverage of conflict zones; and Wawira Njiru, founder of the Kenya-based school meals organization Food4Education.
The event was dedicated to the feminist writer and activist Gloria Steinem, a leading figure of the modern women's movement.
Beyond the formal awards, the meeting between Fonda and Pelicot was described as one of the most powerful images of the night: two women from different worlds, united through public action, resistance and their determination to defend those who cannot yet be heard.
