Ruth Bader Ginsburg Awards Canceled After Family Objects to Winners That Included Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

The 2024 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Leadership Award was canceled on Monday following backlash from Ginsburg’s family over the decision to bestow the award to billionaire Elon Musk and right-wing media magnate Rupert Murdoch.

The Dwight D. Opperman Foundation, which has presented the award since 2020, turned heads last week after it was revealed that the award which was launched to recognize prominent women would be given to Musk, Murdoch, Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone, and billionaire convicted felon Michael Milken – who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump in 2020.

Just one woman was selected to be honored with the award in 2024: celebrity chef Martha Stewart.

Ginsburg’s family and several of her former law clerks spoke out against this year’s list, with Ginsburg’s former clerk Trevor Morrison calling it a “betrayal of the Justice’s legacy.”

In their own statement, Ginsburg’s family called the “slate of awardees” an “affront to the memory of our mother and grandmother.”

They added, “The Justice’s family wish to make clear that they do not support using their mother’s name to celebrate this year’s slate of awardees, and that the Justice’s family has no affiliation with and does not endorse this award.”

On Monday, the Opperman Foundation reacted to the backlash by announcing that the awards would be canceled.

“The last thing we intended was to offend the family and friends of RBG,” said Opperman Foundation chairwoman Julie Opperman. “Our purpose was only to remember her and to honor her leadership. And, while we believe each of the honorees is worthy of our respect for their leadership and their notable contributions, the Foundation has decided that the planned ceremony in April 2024 will be canceled.”

As of reporting, the Opperman Foundation’s website is unavailable and states that it is “currently under revision.”