Oprah Winfrey denies Taraji P. Henson feud after actress made pay disparity comments

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."
 

 

 

 

 

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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