I still feel like I’m not getting paid what I truly deserve. Today, I didn’t get a raise, and I haven’t been paid either. I’ve been making the same money for films ever since Proud Mary. That was back in 2018, and since then, nothing has changed. Every time I start a new project, I have to fight for fair pay. Can you believe that? I’m still fighting for it, baby.
Word on the street is that ever since Taraji P. Henson spoke out about pay disparity in Hollywood—and made Oprah look like the bad guy—she’s been having a really tough time finding work. Apparently, things have gotten so bad that she’s had to start selling off her assets because Hollywood has blackballed her. So, is she actually broke, or is she just over Chicago and looking to move on? Let’s take a closer look.
Taraji’s selling her homes in Chicago, and not just one—she’s offloading two condos for a cool $3.3 million. The listings say the larger condo is beautifully designed with custom lighting, wood floors, crown molding, and an entryway that makes a serious first impression with its tray ceiling and marble floors. The main living space comes with a balcony where you can catch some fresh air and take in the water views, plus there’s a fireplace to keep you warm on those chilly Chicago nights. The kitchen is pretty sweet too, with a smart fridge, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast bar that seats five. The primary bedroom offers a lovely lake view, fancy wall coverings, drapes, another fireplace, a walk-in closet, and an en-suite bathroom with granite vanities and a whirlpool tub. There’s also a bonus living area with a beverage fridge, built-in shelves with lighting, and a wet bar—perfect for entertaining.
It definitely sounds like a gorgeous place, but with Taraji selling her homes, people are jumping to conclusions, assuming she’s broke. Remember when she opened up about not getting paid what she deserved during “The Color Purple” tour? And honestly, she’s had to speak out about this kind of thing more than once.
“I’m just tired of working so hard, being really good at what I do, and still getting paid a fraction of what I’m worth. I’m exhausted from hearing the same story from my fellow sisters in this industry. You know, you just get worn out. People say to me, ‘You work a lot.’ Well, yeah, I have to. Do the math. When you’re working a lot, you have a team, and with that comes big bills. We don’t do this alone; there’s a whole team behind us that needs to get paid too. So when you hear someone made $10 million, just know that it’s not all going into their pocket. First, Uncle Sam takes his 50%. That leaves $5 million. Then your team takes their 30%, and that’s off the gross, not after taxes. So, really, do the math.”
In another chat with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Taraji shared that things got so tough after “Empire” ended—around 2020—that she had to let go of her entire team because they hadn’t lined up any new roles or endorsements for her. They kept pushing for her to do another show as Cookie, her popular character, and she might’ve been open to it if they’d gotten it right. But when they couldn’t make it happen, she decided to clean house.
“After Cookie, I had to let everyone go. I was like, ‘Where’s my deal? Where’s my commercial? Cookie was at the top of the fashion game—where’s my endorsement? What did you guys have set up for me after this?’ And that’s why you haven’t seen me around for a while. They had nothing planned. All they wanted was another Cookie show, and I was open to it, but it had to be done right. Cookie’s too beloved for them to mess it up. When they couldn’t get it together, I knew it was time to fire everyone.”
Taraji P. Henson really didn’t hold back when it came to talking about pay disparity. And when I say she talked about it a lot, I mean a lot. It seemed like that was all she could focus on after her first comment. Honestly, I’m not sure what she expected, but her story about dealing with pay inequality in Hollywood blew up. Since she brought it up while working with Oprah, people immediately started blaming Oprah. Social media was flooded with clips that made it look like Taraji was over Oprah and the whole situation. There’s even one video where Taraji looks like she’s fighting back tears, and it really seemed like she felt snubbed by Oprah. Fans also pointed out how Oprah moved away from Taraji to stand next to Danielle Brooks, and her smile got noticeably bigger. Meanwhile, Fantasia Barrino, another cast member, looked genuinely concerned as she glanced over at Taraji.
It’s things like this that made people think Taraji was being treated pretty poorly on Oprah’s set. To make matters even worse, Taraji later opened up more about her experience filming The Color Purple in an interview with The New York Times. She shared that she almost walked away from the movie because of how frustrated she was with the pay and the working conditions. Can you believe they actually made her audition for the role of Shug Avery, even though she was the director’s top pick? This is after her success on Empire and an Oscar nomination, no less. She also mentioned that they gave the cast rental cars to drive themselves to the set. She was like, “I can’t be driving myself around Atlanta; it’s not safe.” When she asked for a driver or security, they told her, “If we do it for you, we have to do it for everyone.” And Taraji’s response? “Well, then do it for everyone.”
Oprah herself stepped in to calm some of the tension after Taraji’s Instagram comment, sharing a heartfelt appreciation post with photos of the two of them. A day after Taraji’s post, Oprah described Taraji as a “steady and solid beacon of light for the cast,” emphasizing how important it is for Black women and women of color to lift each other up. She wrote, “It is so important for Black women and all women of color to support each other. It is also imperative to have women of color in decision-making positions across all industries. Thank you for responding to my message with the compassion, understanding, and support that I received.” Oprah then went on to express how she has been a constant source of encouragement, guidance, and unwavering support for the entire cast of The Color Purple. She mentioned that Oprah had personally told her to reach out if she ever needed anything, and after just one call and one conversation, she felt truly heard. She added, “Thank you, Miss @Oprah, for all that you do.”
In her post, Oprah also shared her deep admiration for Taraji, saying that she had long been a fan and was thrilled to welcome her into the Purple Sisterhood. “I’ve long admired Taraji. She can make you laugh, cry, cheer, and feel everything in between. But I had no idea she could sing. Taraji the actress? A force. Taraji the singer? A complete revelation. What I love about her portrayal of Shug Avery is that she plays her like a woman who not only sang the blues but lived the blues. Only Taraji could do that,” Oprah shared. She also recalled something her late father once told her: “You’re going to be one of the greatest actresses alive, but wait until the world hears you sing.” Oprah wrapped up her post by saying, “Taraji, the stage is now yours, and I can already see the standing ovations. I’m fiercely welcoming Taraji to the Purple Sisterhood, and I can’t wait for you to meet her version of Shug.”
Oprah recently revisited the situation, as even after her initial post about Taraji, she continued to face a flood of comments accusing her of mistreating Taraji. In response, Oprah said, “I just want to address this whole Taraji thing—apparently, I was trending yesterday with claims that I wasn’t supporting her. Taraji herself will tell you that I’ve been one of the biggest advocates for this film, supporting not only the production behind the scenes but also ensuring that everyone had what they needed. I’m not in charge of the budget—that’s Warner Brothers’ responsibility. In the studio system, everyone’s salary is negotiated by their own team. Whenever I heard about an issue—whether it was with the cars or the food—I stepped in to help fix it. I’m confident Taraji would back me up on that.”
But despite Oprah and Taraji both trying to set the record straight, the damage was already done, and The Color Purple took a hit in the ratings. There were even reports that the executive producers had an emergency conference call with Oprah, blaming her and Taraji for the film’s poor performance. Rumor has it that the film was quickly moved to direct-to-DVD, even while it was still in theaters, as the producers tried to recoup their losses. They apparently felt Oprah should have talked to Taraji and kept things in check before she spoke out publicly during the film’s promotion.
Allegedly, during this conversation, the executives mentioned the possibility of blackballing Taraji, holding her responsible for the film stalling and costing them millions. Taraji, however, clapped back, saying it was unfair that people were focusing more on her comments than on the movie itself. In an interview with Today, she said, “I really hope people can refocus on the film because right now, it feels like my words are drowning out this beautiful movie. That’s not fair to me or anyone involved, especially since the film is about overcoming oppression and celebrating sisterhood.”
In a recent interview with Today, Taraji opened up about Oprah’s comments, saying, “I see what’s being said, but there’s nothing to twist here. Oprah was right there with us, doing the electric slide in the dust. She was in the field with us, dancing along. She held our hand throughout the whole production. She was present.” Taraji emphasized that Oprah didn’t go through any middlemen when she needed something; she reached out directly, saying, “Taraji, if there’s anything you need, just let me know.” Taraji, with a bit of a shaky voice, responded, “Well, yeah, since you’re asking.” And as Taraji mentioned, every time she brought something up to Oprah, it was taken care of the very next day.
Even though Oprah clarified in an ET interview that she wasn’t in charge of the film’s budget because that was Warner Brothers’ responsibility, Taraji still praised her, saying, “That’s exactly what a producer is supposed to do.” Unfortunately, Taraji’s outspokenness seemed to have some negative consequences, possibly making some in the industry hesitant to work with her. There are rumors that the executives behind The Color Purple felt Taraji was too vocal about the pay gap in Hollywood, and that might have played a role in her not being nominated for a Golden Globe. While Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks were both nominated for their amazing performances—although neither won—Taraji didn’t even get a nomination.
Now, there’s a lot of buzz about Taraji selling her homes. While it could simply be that she’s ready for a change, the fact that it’s happening just a few months after she spoke out about the pay disparity has led people to speculate that she might be struggling financially. On top of that, some think Taraji has been having a tough time since, especially after getting criticized for visiting Russell Simmons in Bali. Russell, who has faced multiple sexual assault allegations, shared a photo of himself with Taraji during her visit, expressing his appreciation for her friendship. However, many on social media blasted Taraji for even associating with him given the accusations.
Russell eventually took to social media to defend Taraji, asking people to stop the verbal attacks on her. He reminded everyone of his past efforts to help the Black community, like getting 10,000 Black men out of jail, changing the factory farming industry, registering voters, and supporting movements like Black Lives Matter, women’s rights, and gay rights. He argued that it’s unfair for people to demonize him so much that his friends can’t visit without being criticized. “Yet you stand next to Donald Trump? Come on. I’ll be in New York next week. The idea that I’m hiding is ridiculous. I call the paparazzi on myself every time I’m there. I have an office on Wilshire Boulevard, and I work out of New York sometimes, but I live here. I live here to heal people,” he said.
A lot of people are saying that Taraji’s recent comments on pay disparity are just a result of her frustrations. But what do you think? Is there more to the story? Do you believe Taraji is actually struggling financially, and that the blackballing rumors are real? If she is going through tough times, do you think it’s fair? And could Oprah really be involved in all of this? I’m really curious to hear your thoughts, so let’s talk about it in the comments below!
