Ruth Bader Ginsburg: ‘Notorious RBG’ & Her New Cult Following

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s recent series of hospital visits began when she took a tumble in early November, breaking three ribs. That first visit was a short one — she fell on Thursday, was released on Friday, and returned to work on Tuesday — but the reaction was dramatic nonetheless. Actress Leslie Grossman took to Twitter: “If Ruth Bader Ginsburg needs any of my bones or internal organs I don’t need mine.” Stephen Colbert made a similar offer: “No! Does she need ribs? I’ve got ribs. She can take mine!” Laypeople joined in, calling for witch spells to protect Ginsburg and demanding that she don an inflatable sumo suit for protection.

Though it’s not always serious, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has an intense fan following that no political figure can match. It’s nothing short of a pop-culture phenomenon, complete with merchandise, movies, and a recurring Kate McKinnon impression on Saturday Night Live. For many, RBG is simultaneously a fun rock-star celebrity and the final bulwark between us and a future resembling The Handmaid’s Tale. The reputation and the reality of Ruth Bader Ginsburg have often clashed, but they have also transformed each other — in five short years, she has became “notorious,” a radical feminist, and a legendary dissenter.

PJ

About the Author

Phil Jeffery

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s recent series of hospital visits began when she took a tumble in early November, breaking three ribs. That first visit was a short one — she fell on Thursday, was released on Friday, and returned to work on Tuesday — but the reaction was dramatic nonetheless. Actress Leslie Grossman took to Twitter: “If Ruth Bader Ginsburg needs any of my bones or internal organs I don’t need mine.” Stephen Colbert made a similar offer: “No! Does she need ribs? I’ve got ribs. She can take mine!” Laypeople joined in, calling for witch spells to protect Ginsburg and demanding that she don an inflatable sumo suit for protection.

Though it’s not always serious, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has an intense fan following that no political figure can match. It’s nothing short of a pop-culture phenomenon, complete with merchandise, movies, and a recurring Kate McKinnon impression on Saturday Night Live. For many, RBG is simultaneously a fun rock-star celebrity and the final bulwark between us and a future resembling The Handmaid’s Tale. The reputation and the reality of Ruth Bader Ginsburg have often clashed, but they have also transformed each other — in five short years, she has became “notorious,” a radical feminist, and a legendary dissenter.