Current:Home > NewsPoinbank:Oprah Winfrey denies Taraji P. Henson feud after actress made pay disparity comments -TrueNorth Finance Path
Poinbank:Oprah Winfrey denies Taraji P. Henson feud after actress made pay disparity comments
FinLogic FinLogic Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-10 19:26:52
Oprah Winfrey has Taraji P. Henson’s back — and Poinbankyou can take that to the bank.
During a red carpet interview at the Golden Globes Sunday, the TV personality addressed rumors that she and "The Color Purple" actress had a feud after Henson made comments about her experience with pay inequality in Hollywood. Winfrey served as a producer on the musical drama starring Henson alongside Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks and Halle Bailey.
"People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji," Winfrey told Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier. "Taraji will tell you herself that I've been the greatest champion of this film. Championing not only the behind-the-scenes projection but also everything that everybody needed."
Winfrey added that she was "not in charge" of the film's budget.
"We as producers, everybody gets their salary, everybody is negotiated by your team," Winfrey said. "And so, whenever I heard there was an issue or there was a problem – there was a problem with cars or the problem with their food – I would step in and do whatever I could to make it right. And I believe that (Henson) would even vouch for that and say that is true."
The "Oprah Winfrey Show" host also debunked a rumor that there was friction between the women during a photocall in New York City.
"There was something online about us being separated at the top of the Empire State Building," Winfrey said. "On that particular day, we were so cold, so I don't know what kind of body language people were talking about. I was literally just trying to stay warm and that was the fourth thing we had done. There's no validity to there being a thing between Taraji and I."
Henson opened up about navigating pay disparities in the entertainment industry during an emotional SiriusXM interview with Gayle King last month. The actress was asked if rumors about her possibly quitting acting were true.
"I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do (and) getting paid a fraction of the cost," Henson said during the Dec. 19 interview. "I'm tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired. I hear people go, 'You work a lot.' Well, I have to. The math ain't math-ing. When you start working a lot, you have a team. Big bills come with what we do. We don’t do this alone. It’s a whole entire team behind us. They have to get paid."
A few days following the interview, Henson took to Instagram to praise Winfrey for her support during production on "The Color Purple."
"It is so important for black women and ALL women of color to support each other," Henson wrote in the Dec. 21 post. "With that being said… Ms. OPRAH has been nothing less than a steady and solid beacon of light to ALL OF THE CAST of The Color Purple!!! … She told me personally to reach out to her for ANYTHING I needed, and I did!"
Henson concluded: "It took ONE CALL… ONE CONVERSATION… and ONE DECISION-MAKING BLACK WOMAN to make me feel heard."
'The math ain't math-ing':Taraji P. Henson tearfully speaks out about pay inequality
'The Color Purple' movie review:A fantastic Fantasia Barrino brings new depth to 2023 film
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY
veryGood! (5375)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- How memorable debate moments are made: on the fly, rehearsed — and sometimes without a word uttered
- She needed an abortion. In post-Roe America, it took 21 people and two states to help her.
- Alec Baldwin attorneys argue damage to gun during testing was unacceptable destruction of evidence
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Texas A&M baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle pushes back speculation about Texas job
- Diane von Furstenberg on documentary, 'biggest gift' from mom, an Auschwitz survivor
- Missing hiker found alive in California mountains after being stranded for 10 days
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Catastrophic flooding in Minnesota leaves entire communities under feet of water as lakes reach uncontrollable levels
Ranking
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- The Sopranos at 25: Looking back on TV's greatest hour
- Who Is Shivon Zilis? Meet the Mother of 3 of Elon Musk's 12 Children
- Sofía Vergara Shares How Being in Her 50s Has Shaped Her Confidence
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Plot of Freaky Friday Sequel Starring Lindsay Lohan Finally Revealed
- Sen. Bob Menendez’s Egypt trip planning got ‘weird,’ Senate staffer recalls at bribery trial
- 2 years after Dobbs, Democratic-led states move to combat abortion bans
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Alec Baldwin’s attorneys ask New Mexico judge to dismiss the case against him over firearm evidence
Lawsuit challenges new Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments
Kaitlyn Bristowe and Zac Clark Attend Same NHL Finals Game as Jason Tartick and Kat Stickler
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Gun violence an 'urgent' public health crisis. Surgeon General wants warnings on guns
Former student heads to prison for life for killing University of Arizona professor
Maui ponders its future as leaders consider restricting vacation rentals loved by tourists