Controversy Surrounds Award in Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Name Given to Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch

The son of the late liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg expressed his disappointment on Sunday. He stated that giving an award named after his mother to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch is disrespectful to her memory.

Jim Ginsburg, in an interview with Paula Reid on "CNN Newsroom," mentioned that he is opposed to this decision. He added that if the foundation does not reconsider and stop this disrespect, he and his family will continue to fight against it.

Ginsburg's family wrote a letter to the Opperman Foundation, who gives out the award, expressing their disapproval of this year's nominees and asking for Ruth Ginsburg's name to be removed from consideration.

The Ginsburg award is meant to honor individuals who have achieved great success in their respective fields, as stated by the foundation. Originally, the award focused on recognizing outstanding women, but this year, it was opened up to include both men and women.

Martha Stewart, Sylvester Stallone, and Michael Milken are also among the 2024 recipients of the award, in addition to Musk and Murdoch. In 2023, Barbra Streisand was the honoree.

When asked about his opinion on men now being included in the award and the recipients themselves, Jim Ginsburg responded, "We could discuss that, but the standout awardees here are Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch.

"When you think about working towards a fairer society, which was Mom's main aim, those names are probably the least likely to come to mind," he mentioned.

"I believe she would be shocked," he later shared with Reid.

The Opperman Foundation did not respond to CNN's inquiry on Friday. CNN also contacted them on Sunday night for a comment on Jim Ginsburg's interview.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a well-known liberal member of the high court, passed away at the age of 87 in 2020. Throughout her time, she consistently supported progressive stances on important social issues such as abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and immigration.

The Opperman Foundation announced the 2024 award recipients, describing them as a diverse group of individuals from various professions and industries. They range from innovative newcomers to experienced veterans.

According to the foundation, Stewart was one of the individuals on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's initial list of potential honorees. Musk was recognized for his impressive achievements, described as reaching "stratospheric accomplishments." Murdoch was hailed as the "most iconic living legend in media" by the organization.

Jim Ginsburg disagreed with the honorees, stating that they do not embody his mother's values. He believes that they stand against everything she believed in, such as making the world a better place, promoting equality, and creating a more inclusive society where everyone is treated with respect.

CNN’s Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The decision to award the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award to Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch has sparked controversy, with the late Justice's son expressing his disappointment. This award, intended to honor individuals who align with Ginsburg's progressive values, seems to have strayed from its original purpose. Musk and Murdoch's conservative views and actions, including their opposition to policies supported by Ginsburg, have raised concerns about the integrity of the award and its reflection of her legacy.

The Opperman Foundation's decision to broaden the award's eligibility to include men and select honorees who do not embody Ginsburg's values has further fueled the debate. The inclusion of Stewart, Stallone, and Milken, while notable in their own fields, does little to address the concerns raised by the selection of Musk and Murdoch. It remains to be seen how the foundation will respond to the criticism and whether it will reconsider its decision to honor these particular individuals.