Jane Fonda Bumped from QVC Shopping Network, Blames Right Wing Politics

Jane Fonda is mad. She says the QVC shopping network cancelled her appearance on the program because of pressure from Right Wing extremist political groups. She says it was her criticism of the Vietnam war that irked QVC viewers.

Fonda, 73, was scheduled to appear on the shopping network show to promote her new book "Prime Time", a textbook about aging gracefully when she was cancelled. Fonda blogged on the the entertainment website the Wrap, "I have never done anything to hurt my country or the men and women who fought and continue to fight for us. I do not understand what the far right has to gain by continuing with these myths."

Forty years ago Fonda visited North Vietnam during the height of the controversial war. Rather than bolstering the morale of American soldiers like other entertainers, she chose to visit the enemy's capital city and thoughtlessly posed for several photos at a Vietnamese anti-aircraft battery, as if she were shooting at American planes.

She spoke on Hanoi radio criticizing U.S. war policies, and participated in a staged press conference with American soldiers being held captive by the Viet Cong. The purpose was to prove prisoners were not being mistreated by their captors. When Fonda returned to the U.S. she naively reported the North Vietnamese treated all their prisoners humanely.

Years later when released POWs like John McCain described the torture and degradation they endured at the hands of the North Vietnamese, Fonda called them "hypocrites and liars."

Fonda's behavior at that time earned her the name "Hanoi Jane" by veterans and POWs of the Vietnam War, some of whom hate her to this day. Many think she should have been tried for treason.

Throughout the 1970's Fonda worked on her image, concentrating on her acting career, becoming a fitness guru and marrying billionaire, Ted Turner.

In 1988 she issued an apology to Vietnam veterans and their families, admitting that her actions were "thoughtless and careless."

During the 1990's Fonda's past seemed less important until 1999 when Barbara Walters chose to honor Fonda in a television special called "A Celebration: 100 Years of Great Women."

The announcement which did in fact honor Fonda, prompted an instant outcry from veterans and ex-POWs who vented their outrage via the Internet. Angry accusations were posted in newsletters and Web pages or forwarded by email.

Unfortunately for Fonda many of the emails were untrue and soldiers named as victims of her behavior, have denied any involvement with Fonda. Yet angry diatribes still exist on the Internet today.

Fonda chose the behavior then and the consequences continue.

A QVC spokesman said they received so many calls protesting Fonda's book hawking appearance, they decided it was in their best interest to boot her off their schedule... so much for "aging gracefully."

Sources:

http://www.nbcsandiego.comentertainment/celebrity/NATLJaneFonda-QVC-Ca..

http://www.3marines.net/Vietnam_jane_fonda_in_vietnam.htm

TBO.com