Taraji P. Henson has faced repercussions after speaking out about Hollywood’s pay disparity in several emotional interviews. “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost. I’m tired of hearing my sister say the same thing over and over. Um, you get tired,” she expressed. Her candid remarks led to fallout, with sources revealing that executives of ‘The Color Purple’ blamed both Henson and Oprah Winfrey for the film’s underperformance. Allegedly, the producers initiated a conference call to address the situation, expressing frustration at the film’s direct-to-DVD release while still in theaters. They argued that Henson’s outspokenness during the promotion damaged the film’s success and cost them millions.
Despite the backlash, Henson remains vocal about her experience with pay inequality in Hollywood. She disclosed that she almost turned down a role in the film due to feeling undervalued. However, she now hopes attention will shift back to the film itself. “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. And 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, and all the characters in that film except for the white people. So, that movie is about healing. That movie is about Sisterhood,” she emphasized.
Did Taraji really anticipate that her remarks wouldn’t gain widespread attention? The issues she addressed were quite weighty. Wasn’t she the one who openly expressed her frustration in interviews regarding the gender pay gap? Taraji even delved further into her experiences, particularly on ‘The Color Purple,’ revealing to The New York Times that she nearly walked away from the project due to payment disputes and working conditions. She recounted having to audition for the role of Shug Avery despite being the top choice of director Blitz Basa W, boasting a successful stint on ‘Empire,’ and securing an Oscar nomination, among other accolades. She also lamented being provided with rental cars for transportation to the set, expressing concerns about safety and the impracticality of driving alone in Atlanta. She questioned why she was expected to handle her own transportation, highlighting the potential risks involved. When she requested a driver or security, she was met with resistance, being told that such accommodations would set a precedent for others, to which she countered, ‘Then provide it for everyone.'”
“Moreover, several social media videos circulated, portraying Taraji as disenchanted with Oprah and the show. One video captured Taraji seemingly struggling to contain her emotions, suggesting possible feelings of neglect by Oprah. Fans also observed Oprah’s physical distance from Taraji, opting to pose with Danielle Brooks instead, and her visibly widened smile afterward. Meanwhile, fellow cast member Fantasia Burino appeared to express concern as she glanced at Taraji. In another instance, Oprah appeared warmly affectionate toward other cast members during film promotions, even placing her hand on their shoulders as they spoke. However, when it came to Taraji, Oprah refrained from physical contact.”
“After the initial interviews, Taraji revisited the same topics in subsequent discussions. It’s baffling how she didn’t anticipate her remarks going viral, given their repetition across all platforms. Moreover, her emotional collaboration with Oprah, despite Oprah’s history of contentious treatment towards black women, naturally raises eyebrows. The memory of Mo’Nique’s blackballing, following her public critique of Oprah, still lingers. Even though Oprah reportedly agreed with the criticism during a private conversation, she remained silent when similar allegations arose against Taraji. The pattern is evident.”
“Oprah tried to mitigate the fallout from Taraji’s remarks with an Instagram post featuring pictures of them together. In her caption, posted a day after Taraji’s comments, Oprah expressed admiration for Taraji and welcomed her to the ‘purple Sisterhood.’ She passed the torch to Taraji, envisioning standing ovations for her.”
Oprah had to address the matter once again, despite her earlier post about Taraji, as some still accused her of mistreating Taraji. Taraji herself acknowledges my unwavering support for the film, not just in its production, but also in addressing any needs. While I lack control over the budget, managed by Warner Brothers, I, like all producers, ensure everyone receives their negotiated salaries. Whenever issues arose, like with transportation or catering, I intervened to rectify them.
In her Today interview, Taraji referenced Oprah’s remarks, stating, “There’s no need for spin. She saw what was happening and didn’t spin anything. She was there, dust and all, doing the Electric Slide with us, supporting us throughout. She didn’t just show up; she was present. Some producers don’t bother showing up on set.” Taraji also mentioned that Oprah didn’t contact her team directly when needed. Instead, Oprah personally reached out to offer assistance, prompting Taraji’s response, albeit hesitant, “Yes, since you asked.”
Taraji reiterated that whenever she confided in Oprah, the next day everything was resolved. Even though Oprah clarified in her ET interview that she wasn’t responsible for the film’s budget as it fell under Warner Brothers’ purview, Taraji commended Oprah for taking charge, stating, “That’s what a producer should do, darling.”
Despite Taraji’s plea to shift the focus onto the film rather than her comments, it seems too late to do so. Rumor has it that her efforts to defuse the situation are merely PR tactics. Allegedly, Oprah is upset that the discussion turned to her and holds Taraji responsible for the film’s failure. Consequently, Oprah has reportedly intervened to ensure that Taraji faces repercussions akin to Mo’Nique’s blacklisting.
“I’ve only ever seen Oprah Winfrey, a black woman, grace the cover of that magazine. While I’ve seen her share the cover with other women, I’ve never witnessed another black woman featured solo. Oprah stood up for justice, and in doing so, she represented our community. When you stand up for our sisters, you’re also advocating for my career and our children’s futures.”
“There’s a strong likelihood that Taraji will echo Mo’Nique’s sentiments in the near future because industry insiders are already discussing reluctance to collaborate with her. Additionally, it’s been rumored that the executives behind ‘The Color Purple’ are displeased with Taraji’s outspokenness about Hollywood’s wage gap, especially after her snub at the Golden Globe Awards. Notably, Fantasia Burino and Danielle Brooks received nominations for their outstanding performances, despite not winning. However, Taraji didn’t even receive a nomination.”
Well, it seems like Taraji’s situation might take a turn for the worse in the near future. There are ongoing reports suggesting that Oprah may allow it to happen, similar to what occurred with Mo’Nique. It’s said that Oprah had high hopes for ‘The Color Purple’ to pave the way for other projects, which makes her even more disappointed that the film didn’t perform as well as expected, partly due to Taraji.
It’s uncertain what lies ahead for Taraji, and many voices speculate on her prospects not being promising. Some suggest that both Mo’Nique and Taraji could consider financing their own film, perhaps titled ‘Blackballed,’ to capitalize on their experiences. What’s your take on this? Do you believe Taraji’s remarks contributed to the film’s lackluster performance? Could Oprah harbor hidden resentment towards her? And how do you feel about the alleged discussions of Taraji facing professional repercussions? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
