Jane Fonda has paid an emotional tribute to her ex-husband Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, following his death aged 87 — saying she “loved him with all my heart”
Jane Fonda has paid tribute to Ted Turner, her former husband and founder of American news giant CNN, following his death at 87.
The award-winning actress honoured her “dearest Ted” in a heartfelt Instagram post, revealing how he transformed her life, adding she “loved him with all my heart”.
Turner was a bold and outspoken broadcasting visionary, renowned for revolutionising round-the-clock news coverage with CNN’s debut in 1980. His media empire Turner Enterprises confirmed his passing on Tuesday, with a statement on its website saying he “died peacefully” and “surrounded by his family”.
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Fonda, 88, posted a vintage photograph showing her embracing her former spouse to her 2.7 million Instagram followers on Wednesday, describing how Turner “swept into my life, a gloriously handsome, deeply romantic, swashbuckling pirate and I’ve never been the same”.
The star, who also became famous for her 1980s fitness videos, wrote: “He needed me. No one had ever let me know they needed me, and this wasn’t your average human being that needed me, this was the creator of CNN, and Turner Classic Movies, who had won the America’s Cup as the world’s greatest sailor.
“He had a big life, a brilliant mind and a soaring sense of humour.”
Fonda added: “Ted Turner helped me believe in myself. He gave me confidence. I think I did the same for him, but that’s what women are raised to do. Men like Ted aren’t supposed to express need and vulnerability. That was Ted’s greatest strength, I believe.”
Turner, who owned professional sports franchises in Atlanta and successfully defended the America’s Cup in 1977, was also described by Fonda as “the most competitive person I have ever met”.
She continued: “Ted was challenging, but I’ve always been up for a challenge, and with Ted it was almost always worth it. I loved Ted with all my heart.”
Rounding off her heartfelt tribute, she wrote: “Five children survive him, five talented, complex kids who I had the privilege of becoming stepmother to.
“I had four stepmothers growing up and I know how important stepmothers can be, so we all did our best to build an extended, rag tag family, and I love them to this day. If it was complicated to be married to him, think how complicated it was being his child. And they are all doing fine. Rest in Peace, dearest Ted. You are loved and you will be remembered.”
Turner, who earned the nicknames Captain Outrageous and The Mouth of the South for his outspoken remarks, wed Fonda in 1991 before their ten-year marriage came to an end in 2001.
The broadcasting tycoon has also received a tribute from US President Donald Trump, who took to Truth Social to hail him as “one of the greats of broadcast history, and a friend of mine”. Current CNN chief executive and chairman Mark Thompson also paid tribute to Turner, describing him as “the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognise him and his impact on our lives and the world“.
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