Reese Witherspoon and Barbra Streisand lead celebrity tributes to feminist ‘warrior’ Gloria Steinem after her death at 92

Reese Witherspoon and Barbra Streisand were among the stars sharing tributes in honor of Gloria Steinem following news of her passing.

The feminist icon and women’s rights activist died at the age of 92 on Wednesday, per an announcement posted on her official Instagram page the following morning.

After learning of the news, many celebrities shared moving tributes in memory of Steinem and her influence and legacy.

On Thursday, Witherspoon posted a throwback photo of her and Steinem posing with their arms around each other in the Oval Office of the White House from a past event.

‘Gloria Steinem changed how women saw themselves and what was possible…I was one of them,’ the actress wrote in her caption.

‘When I was deciding whether to do Legally Blonde, I watched a documentary where Gloria spoke about the importance of seeing an underestimated woman become the hero of her own story,’ she continued. ‘Her words changed how I saw Elle Woods and helped me say yes.’

On Thursday, Reese Witherspoon shared a throwback photo of her and Steinem posing with their arms around each other in the Oval Office of the White House from a past event

‘Years later, I got to sit beside Gloria at an event, and tell her how much she inspired me,’ Witherspoon wrote. 

‘Gloria was a warrior for change. She wanted equality and freedom for ALL women. She dedicated her whole life to advocating for our fundamental rights,’ she added.

‘Thank you, Gloria, for your courage, your commitment and everything you made possible for all women. What a legacy,’ she wrote before concluding her moving tribute with a red heart emoji.

In a touching tribute on Instagram, Streisand posted a black-and-white, throwback photo of her and Steinem together from one of their past encounters. 

She wrote a lengthy, heartfelt caption about how much the journalist ‘deeply impressed her’ since they met nearly six decades ago. 

‘From the first moment I met Gloria in the 1970s, I was deeply impressed by her,’ the singer-songwriter, 84, began.

‘She stood for everything I believed in: equality for women in the workplace, a woman’s right to choose, greater political representation for women, and a thoughtful, determined response to every form of gender-based discrimination,’ she continued.

‘She gave voice to these issues with fierce intelligence and steely determination, but also with wit, empathy, and humility,’ Streisand added.

Witherspoon remembered the activist, calling her a ‘warrior for change,’ and penned a caption about Steinem’s influence on her life

The actress also reposted a clip from one of Steinem’s past interviews and said the feminist icon was ‘forever grateful for her wisdom, courage and a lifetime spent fighting for us’

In a touching tribute on Instagram, Streisand posted a black-and-white, throwback photo of her and Steinem together from one of their past encounters

She wrote a lengthy, heartfelt caption about how much the journalist ‘deeply impressed her’ since they met nearly six decades ago

‘What made her so extraordinary was not only the strength of her convictions, but the humanity and grace with which she expressed them,’ she wrote before sharing a meaningful quote from her friend.

‘Gloria once said, “When unique voices are united in a common cause, they make history.” Her voice changed history, but her greatest legacy may be the countless voices she helped others find—and gave the courage to use,’ Streisand wrote as she concluded her tribute. 

On the same day, Pedro Pascal, 51, also shared a series of throwback photos of Steinem and penned a heartfelt caption. 

‘Gloria has always been one of the greatest names. What a cool hang is happening in the sky. Look after us. We need you #GloriaSteinem #WeShallOvercome,’ the Game of Thrones alum wrote. 

Julianne Moore, who portrayed Steinem in the 2020 biopic The Glorias, also shared a group photo posing with the legend while on set of the film. 

The pair also posed with four other actresses who portrayed younger versions of Steinem throughout her life up until that point. 

‘We were so lucky. The time I spent studying Gloria Steinem in order to play her was one of the most edifying of my life,’ Moore wrote in her caption in a heartfelt tribute dedicated to the icon.

‘Everything I watched, everything I read, everything I observed about her gave me a template for how I wanted to behave,’ she wrote. 

On the same day, Pedro Pascal, 51, also shared a series of throwback photos of Steinem and penned a heartfelt caption; pictured in March

Pascal honored the late icon and her legacy, 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, also shared a group photo posing with the legend while on set of the film. The pair also posed with four other actresses who portrayed younger versions of Steinem throughout her life up until that point

‘We were so lucky,’ she wrote in a lengthy caption serving as her tribute

‘Her honesty, her tolerance, her patience, and her insistence on humanism and inclusion as she moved through the world offers us all a moral roadmap. Thank you for all you gave us, Gloria.’ 

Jessica Alba also took to social media to pay tribute to Steinem and posted a carousel of photos and videos, which included several of their past encounters and onstage conversation at a panel. 

‘What an honor to spend time and share space w @gloriasteinem,’ the actress, 45, wrote as she praised the activist and called her ‘a true pioneer on multiple fronts.’

‘Her courage to stand for equity and equality despite the adversity and bumps along the way,’ Alba continued. 

‘The shoulders she generously offered for us to stand on were tenacious and relentless,’ she added. 

‘Let us all walk through our life with that will to pursue dreams of fairness and justice while leaning into the beauty of joy, compassion, grace and connection, the beauty of what it means to live a life well lived.’

She concluded her post with a series of empowering fist-up emojis in all skin tones then added, ‘Rest in power #gloriasteinem,’ alongside the emojis of a dove and a white heart.

‘Throwback to this epic convo with [an] icon and hero of mine,’ Alba wrote over a news article about her and Steinem’s 2015 conference panel, which she shared on her Instagram Story. 

Jessica Alba also took to social media to pay tribute to Steinem and posted a carousel of photos and videos, which included several of their past encounters and onstage conversation at a panel

‘What an honor to spend time and share space w @gloriasteinem,’ the actress, 45, wrote as she praised the activist and called her ‘a true pioneer on multiple fronts’

‘Throwback to this epic convo with [an] icon and hero of mine,’ Alba wrote over a news article about her and Steinem’s 2015 conference panel, which she shared on her Instagram Story

Paris Hilton also shared a gushing tribute for Steinem and shared photos from when they attended a New York City event together just several months ago. 

Over the photos on Hilton’s Instagram Story, she wrote that she was ‘heartbroken to hear about the passing of the legendary @gloriasteinem.’

She referred to the feminist icon as ‘a true trailblazer who spent her life fighting for women to have a voice, equality and the freedom to be who they are.’

‘Her impact will live on forever,’ the reality TV star added. 

‘I feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to stand alongside Gloria earlier this year as we rang the NYSE Closing Bell for International Women’s Day,’ she wrote. 

‘It was such an honor to share that moment with a woman who paved the way for so many of us. Rest in peace,’ she wrote as she concluded her tribute post.  

Madonna also took to her Instagram Story to share a throwback photo of her and Steinem posing together many years ago.

‘Thank you Gloria Steinem,’ the pop star wrote over the sweet snapshot. ‘The O.G. Baddie!’

Paris Hilton also shared a gushing tribute for Steinem and shared photos from when they attended a New York City event together just several months ago

Madonna also took to her Instagram Story to share a throwback photo of her and Steinem posing together many years ago. She wrote in her tribute that the ‘O.G. Baddie’ had ‘opened many doors for me’ and ‘for us’

Actress Kerry Washington also shared a heartbreaking tribute, remembering Steinem and the impact she has had on so many people in her life

‘You fought many battles and you opened many doors for me. For Us. Respect,’ she wrote alongside a red heart emoji. 

Actress Kerry Washington also shared a heartbreaking tribute, remembering Steinem and the impact she has had on so many people in her life.  

‘Gloria Steinem changed the way generations of women understood their own power,’ Washington wrote. ‘And then spent decades making sure more of us could claim it. Her rest is earned. Rest in peace.’

Steinem, the American writer, lecturer, activist and organizer who fought for gender equality and women’s civil and reproductive rights for more than five decades, died on Wednesday. 

It was confirmed that she died peacefully yesterday at her home in New York City surrounded by ‘some of the many that loved her,’ according to her and her foundation’s social media pages. 

In 1963, she rose to fame after working undercover as a Playboy bunny for 11 days. Her two-part groundbreaking expose, A Bunny’s Tale, detailed the poor pay and sexist treatment that Playboy bunnies, originally waitstaff, endured. 

Much of her life as an advocate was spent on the road, speaking at college campuses and community centers, at rallies and marches, with her trademark streaked hair parted down the middle and large aviator glasses adding to her recognizable presence. 

The announcement on her social media this morning said: ‘Yesterday, Gloria Steinem passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her.

It was confirmed that Steinem died peacefully yesterday at her home in New York City surrounded by ‘some of the many that loved her,’ according to her and her foundation’s social media pages; pictured in May 2023

In 1963, she rose to fame after working undercover as a Playboy bunny for 11 days. Her two-part groundbreaking expose, A Bunny’s Tale, detailed the poor pay and sexist treatment that Playboy bunnies, originally waitstaff, endured

Much of her life as an advocate was spent on the road, speaking at college campuses and community centers, at rallies and marches, with her trademark streaked hair parted down the middle and large aviator glasses adding to her recognizable presence; pictured in July 1972

The announcement on her social media this morning praised her impact and legacy: ‘Gloria’s near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end’; pictured in October 2019

‘Gloria’s near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end,’ the statement continued.

‘Gloria’s greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard. Her words, actions and example gave people permission to be their truest selves. 

‘Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor.’

‘Gloria loved the tradition of lighting signal fires on hills to light the way to the other side of the mountain. Lighting your own candle for Gloria makes you part of this global and celestial community circle. 

‘In lieu of flowers, Gloria has asked that those wishing to honor her with a gift, may make a donation to Gloria’s Foundation.’