Reese Witherspoon, Barbra Streisand and a host of other stars have paid tribute to Gloria Steinem after the pioneering feminist activist died at her home in New York City aged 92.
Steinem’s death was announced on Thursday, September 3, a day after she died peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Her foundation did not disclose a cause of death. ([vogue.com](https://www.vogue.com/article/gloria-steinem-obituary))
Witherspoon shared a photograph of herself with Steinem in the Oval Office, remembering the profound influence the campaigner had on her career and her understanding of female characters.
“Gloria Steinem changed how women saw themselves and what was possible…I was one of them,” the actress wrote.
Witherspoon went on to reveal that Steinem’s words helped persuade her to accept the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. She recalled watching a documentary in which Steinem discussed the importance of seeing an underestimated woman become the hero of her own story.
“Her words changed how I saw Elle Woods and helped me say yes,” Witherspoon wrote, adding that she later had the opportunity to tell Steinem in person how much she had inspired her.
Describing Steinem as a “warrior for change”, Witherspoon praised her lifelong campaign for equality and freedom, before thanking her for “everything you made possible for all women”.
Streisand, who said she first met Steinem in the 1970s, posted a black-and-white photograph of the pair together. The singer and actress said she had been “deeply impressed” by Steinem’s commitment to workplace equality, reproductive rights and greater political representation for women.
“She gave voice to these issues with fierce intelligence and steely determination, but also with wit, empathy, and humility,” Streisand wrote.
She also recalled one of Steinem’s own sayings: “When unique voices are united in a common cause, they make history.” Streisand said Steinem’s greatest legacy could be the countless people she had encouraged to find their voices and use them.
Pedro Pascal shared a series of photographs in tribute to Steinem, writing: “Gloria has always been one of the greatest names. What a cool hang is happening in the sky. Look after us. We need you.”
Julianne Moore, who portrayed Steinem in the 2020 biopic The Glorias, posted a photograph from the film’s production showing the pair together alongside the actresses who played younger versions of the activist.
“The time I spent studying Gloria Steinem in order to play her was one of the most edifying of my life,” Moore wrote. She said that everything she read and observed about Steinem gave her “a template for how I wanted to behave”.
Moore also praised Steinem’s honesty, tolerance, patience and commitment to humanism and inclusion, describing those qualities as “a moral roadmap” for others.
Jessica Alba shared a collection of photographs and videos from previous meetings with Steinem, including footage of the pair taking part in a panel discussion.
Calling her “a true pioneer on multiple fronts”, Alba wrote that Steinem’s courage and determination had created opportunities for generations of women. She ended her tribute with the words: “Rest in power.”
Paris Hilton remembered Steinem as “a true trailblazer” who fought for women to have a voice, equality and the freedom to be themselves.
Hilton said she was grateful to have stood alongside Steinem earlier this year when they rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange for International Women’s Day.
Madonna shared a throwback photograph of herself with Steinem and thanked the activist for opening doors “for me” and “for us”, calling her “the O.G. Baddie”. Kerry Washington also wrote that Steinem had changed the way generations of women understood their own power.
Steinem became one of the most recognisable figures in the US women’s movement after exposing the working conditions faced by Playboy bunnies in a 1963 undercover investigation. She later co-founded Ms. magazine and campaigned for gender equality, civil rights and reproductive freedom for more than five decades.
Her final memoir, An Unexpected Life, is due to be published on September 22. The book was completed shortly before her death and reflects on her childhood, political awakening and decades at the centre of the feminist movement. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/323d2b435bb050eba5c2c0c19733a40e))
Steinem’s foundation has said her New York home and archives will continue as a centre for feminist organising. In lieu of flowers, mourners have been encouraged to make donations to the foundation. ([vogue.com](https://www.vogue.com/article/gloria-steinem-obituary))
