Jane Fonda says suggestion to 'murder' pro-life advocates 'obviously made in jest'

Actress and progressive activist Jane Fonda says her comments suggesting the "murder" of pro-life advocates was in fact a joke. 

When asked Friday on the TV show "The View" what she would do beyond marching and protesting against anti-abortion legislation following the Supreme Court's overruling of Roe v. Wade, Fonda said, "Well, I've thought of murder."

Co-host Joy Behar responded, "She's just kidding," prompting a glare from Fonda, which made the other co-hosts laugh.

Fonda defended her comments later that day in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"While women’s reproductive rights are a very serious issue and extremely important to me, my comment on 'The View' was obviously made in jest," she said. "My body language and tone made it clear to those in the room – and to anyone watching – that I was using hyperbole to make a point."

Fonda is no stranger to controversy, with her most memorable activism event occurring when she visited North Vietnam and was photographed with communist militants.

More recently, she called COVID-19 "God's gift to the left" because it showed that then-President Donald Trump was not helping working-class Americans.