Since Taraji P. Henson shared her thoughts about being underpaid and considering quitting acting during the promotion of The Color Purple, the conversation has continued, and some were trying to pit the actress and Oprah Winfrey against each other.
During an appearance on the “TODAY” show, Henson told the public to focus on the movie rather than her comments.
“I hope they can focus back onto this film, because right now, to me, it feels like what I said is now becoming louder than this beautiful film,” Henson said.
“That’s not fair to me, or anybody in the film because the film deals with women who are oppressed — who live in an oppressed system. Men and women,” Henson said. “And all the characters in that film except for the White people. So that movie is about healing. That movie is about sisterhood.”
During an interview in December 2023 on Sirius XM radio, Henson said, “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost.”
Winfrey later denied having any say-so regarding salary as the producer of The Color Purple, but did other things to make the stars feel comfortable while doing their job.
“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,” Winfrey said to “ET.” “And I believe that she would even vouch for that and say that is true.”
Henson mentioned in her interview with “TODAY” that Winfrey was there to support her and even reached out to offer assistance.
“She called me personally,” Henson said. “Not my team, not my people, me. And asked me, ‘Taraji, if there’s anything you need, you let me know.’ I said it with a shaking voice, I was like, ‘Well, yeah,’ — since she asked. And I told her and she fixed everything the next day.
“What you’re not gonna do is pit two Black women together — not on my watch.”
