When Oprah Winfrey lays downs the law, everyone listens. She told fans on the Golden Globes red carpet that once and for all she isn’t in the middle of a feud with Taraji P. Henson after the cast’s treatment on the set of The Color Purple. And Winfrey is happy to pass the blame onto who is responsible.
Winfrey didn’t sound too pleased that she was a “trending” hot topic on the internet ahead of the awards show. “People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji. 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,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “So whenever I heard that there was something that someone needed, I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Brothers you know that’s the way the studio system works.”
The media mogul claimed that she was the intermediary whenever “there was a problem with cars or the a problem with their food.” Winfrey added, “I would step in and do whatever I could to make it right. And I believe that she would even vouch for that and say that is true.” Henson has been vocal about the treatment she and other cast members received on the set of the movie musical, from having to drive themselves to set to not being served food during their rehearsal period. Drivers and craft services are common perks for actors protected by their SAG-AFTRA contract.
Henson has defended Winfrey, noting to The New York Times that the former talk show host stepped in to fix the situation for the actors once she became aware of the discrepancies. “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost,” Henson said. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over…Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom again, like I never did what I just did, and I’m tired. I’m tired. It wears on you.”
So, there’s no feud between Winfrey and Henson, but there’s clearly an issue in Hollywood and it takes someone with Winfrey’s power to make a difference.
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