That’s MTV Award Winner Ruth Bader Ginsburg to you Image by Getty Images

By Adrianna Chaviva Freedman June 18, 2019

The MTV Movie and TV Awards have become well-known for their unusual awards categories. See: “Best Kiss” and “Most Meme-able Moment.” But at this year’s ceremony, a brand new award was just given to the Jewish judicial superwoman who has become an American obsession.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg won “Best Real-Life Hero” award on Monday night in response to the documentary “RBG,” CNN reported. Although she didn’t attend, the intellectual and pop culture icon beat out major competitors, including tennis champion Serena Williams and Alex Honnold, the focus of this year’s Oscar-winning documentary, “Free Solo.” Winners were picked by fans, who voted online. Democracy in action — RBG would be proud.

This is the first time an award like this has been given out in the award show’s history. The glitzy, lighthearted show was hosted this year by Zachary Levi. (Levi, who starred on season two of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” is tragically not a Jew.)

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“RBG” was also nominated for “Best Fight,” to honor the Justice’s fight against inequality, but it ultimately went to Brie Larson for her role in the blockbuster “Captain Marvel.” (This sounds like a joke we would write, but it’s true!)

RBG has rerouted the course of history in her work to secure women’s rights. The long-serving judge has held a place on the U.S. Supreme Court since 1993. A biopic about her life prior to her nomination to the court (notably starring fellow Jew Armie Hammer) was released last year. Despite serious health troubles, she continues to serve her country at the age of 86.

May this be the first of many MTV Movie Awards for the Supreme Court Justice.

Adrianna Chaviva Freedman is the Social Media Intern for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ac_freedman

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount