Jane Fonda reflects on her controversial photo from the Vietnam War

Jane Fonda is an icon to many while for others, she remains an enemy of the U.S.

The latter take goes back to her protests during Vietnam War, and, more specifically, a photo that she recently told an audience at the Traverse City Film Festival she regrets to this day, notes New York Magazine’s The Cut.

According to the Washington Post, it was taken in 1972 during her controversial trip to North Vietnam and shows her sitting with Vietnamese soldiers on an antiaircraft gun, the sort used to shoot down U.S. forces.

During a Q&A at the festival, a man who identified himself as a Vietnam veteran said he was proud of her for enduring adversity and showing courage.

"I’m a veteran from the Vietnam days," the man said. "If I could, what I would do right now is, I would come up to you and I would drape the Congressional Medal of Honor around you for all the work you’ve done and all that you have endured, the adversity, and your courage."

Fonda, taken aback, reportedly took a few moments to respond.

“Thank you. I appreciate it. It makes me very happy because it tells me that you understand that I made a terrible mistake by sitting on that gun, but that I never was against soldiers. I never was against soldiers,” Fonda replied.

She also addresses the photo in the new documentary, ‘Jane Fonda in Five Acts,’ stating, “As I have said many times, I will go to my grave regretting that.”