Opperman Foundation Cancels RBG Award for Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch Amidst Criticism
Late Monday, the Opperman Foundation announced the cancellation of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) Leadership Award for Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch, and three other individuals following intense criticism from Barbra Streisand and RBG’s family.
The decision to revoke the awards came in response to Streisand’s condemnation of honoring Musk and Murdoch, echoed by RBG’s daughter and others. Julie Opperman, chair of the Opperman Foundation, expressed regret, stating, “The last thing we intended was to offend the family and friends of RBG.”
The RBG honors, initially titled the Women of Leadership Award, faced scrutiny this year for presenting four out of five awards to men. Alongside Musk and Murdoch, the honorees included Michael Milken, Sylvester Stallone, and Martha Stewart. The foundation defended the decision, citing a shift towards gender equality.
However, RBG’s family vehemently opposed the choice of awardees, denouncing it as “an affront to the memory of our mother.” Jane Ginsburg, RBG’s daughter, disavowed any association with the awards and expressed disappointment in the foundation’s decision.
Trevor Morrison, law clerk to Jane Ginsburg, expressed dismay over the selection of honorees, describing it as “appalling” in a letter to the foundation.
In response to the backlash, Opperman announced that the foundation would reassess its mission in the coming months and determine the future of the awards.
