Barbra Streisand joined Ruth Bader Ginsburg's family on Monday in criticizing the selection of a leadership award named after the late Supreme Court justice that went to the likes of Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch.
Streisand, who received the honor last year known as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Woman of Leadership Award, wrote on Instagram that she was “proud” to do so “in honor of one of the most respected public figures in American history.”
The Dwight D. Opperman Foundation, the awarding organization, changed the title of this year's Women's Leadership Award to the Leadership Award due to the pursuit of gender equality, and four out of five recipients are men.
In addition to Musk and Murdoch, the award will also be presented to billionaires Michael Milken (known for dominating the junk bond market in the 1980s before pleading guilty to securities violations), Sylvester Stallone and Martha Stewart. The awards ceremony will be held on April 13th.
Ginsburg's daughter Jane said in a statement: new york times This year’s winner’s choice was “an insult to my mother’s memory.”
“The Justice family does not support the use of the mother’s name to celebrate this year’s list of recipients, and we want to make it clear that the Justice family has no connection to this award and does not support it,” she continued.
In Streisand's post on Monday, the singer also noted that last year's award was presented by Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
“Justices Ginsburg and Justice Sotomayor are two of the most respected female role models, and their commitment to democratic values, especially women’s rights, is unmatched,” Streisand wrote. “This is why I join the Ginsburg family in condemning the selection of this year’s recipients. “I have had the privilege of meeting Justice Ginsburg on several occasions, but I doubt she will approve this award.”