This Awkward Moment Between Jane Fonda and Megyn Kelly Is Going to Carry Me for the Rest of the Day

"We really want to talk about that now?"

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(Image credit: Today.com)

Well, it's Wednesday, which means that we've had Megyn Kelly Today in our lives for three gloriously awkward days. Today, during an interview with Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, we were blessed with the most awkward moment yet, which is impressive.

Yesterday, Megyn welcomed the cast of Will & Grace, all of whom looked absolutely mortified to be there.

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(Image credit: Today.com)

This is my favorite screenshot because it's clear that Debra Messing is sending a message directly to me, asking for help. I'm coming, Grace! And I'm bringing Leo! (Just kidding; I would never bring Leo. Woody Harrelson is Grace's true love and that's a hill I am willing to die on.)

Messing has since said that she regretted going on the program and wouldn't if she had known it was Megyn Kelly's hour.

Things are going really well.

This morning, Megyn welcomed the two Hollywood legends to talk about their new movie, Our Souls at Night, which sounds like a flick about two ghosts who like to party but is probably not that.

Rather abruptly Megyn began her interview with the question "Why?" which is also what I ask every time I turn the program on. Anyway, everything kind of went downhill from there.

The three talked amiably about the film for a minute. Megyn asked Robert Redford what appealed to him about the story. His reply: "I'm not a feminist, but I like the idea of a woman driving the story."

So, unfortunately, Robert Redford is canceled.

What an odd thing to say. He goes out of his way to let us know that he likes women, he likes women's stories, but he'll be damned if you think he's a feminist. Whatever, man.

Megyn leaves that on the table and pivots to asking Jane Fonda about aging and ageism. Jane is, of course, delightful and gracious throughout. She tells a fun story about realizing that the young Robert Redford was going to be a heartthrob.

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For some reason, Megyn decides to ask Robert Redford about whether his character from The Way We Were misses Barbra Streisand's character to which Jane claps back "I don't want to talk about him and Barbra Streisand!" ICONIC.

Then! The interview takes a turn right off the rails. I'll just transcribe it for you because... well, it's too much.

Megyn: But you, you've been an example to everyone in how to age beautifully and with strength and unapologetically. You admit you've had work done, which is to your credit.

Jane's face: 

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(Image credit: Today.com)

Megyn: I read that you said you're not proud to admit that you've had work done. Why not?

Jane's face: 

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(Image credit: Today.com)

Jane: We really want to talk about that now?

Megyn Kelly, God bless her, giggles and tries to press the issue. Jane is clearly over it. She scoffs, throws a look at Robert like "Can you believe this?", and tosses out an answer.

Jane's face: 

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(Image credit: Today.com)

Jane: Well thanks. Good attitude. Good posture. Take care of myself. But let me tell you why I love this movie that we did, Our Souls at Night, rather than plastic surgery.

OMG, what a queen! Jane's like, "I'm not here to talk about my age or my looks, sweetheart. I'm here to sell a movie and be iconic. Thanks for playing."

For some reason, Megyn Kelly ends the interview by talking about Jane Fonda's age once again and then shows an old video of Megyn herself teaching aerobics. Not Jane Fonda aerobics, just some aerobics.

Jane's face:

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(Image credit: Today.com)

Jane Fonda is not impressed.

Watch the second half of the interview, including the plastic surgery question, here:

R. Eric Thomas

R Eric Thomas is a Senior Staff Writer at ELLE.com, home of his daily humor column "Eric Reads the News," which skewers politics, pop culture, celebrity shade, and schadenfreude. He is also the author of _Here For It: How to Save Your Soul in America, a memoir-in-essays.