Oprah Winfrey has shut down rumors that she and Taraji P. Henson are feuding amid the release of “The Color Purple.”
Winfrey appeared to address a viral video that shows the media mogul seemingly acting shady towards Henson. Some fans believe the actress is holding back tears in the TikTok clip.
“I would just like to say about this whole Taraji thing… “People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji. Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film,” Winfrey Entertainment Tonight on Sunday (Jan. 7) at the 2024 Golden Globes, Vibe reports.
Winfrey said she is “Championing not only the behind-the-scenes projection” on the film “but also everything that everybody needed,” she added.
“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,” Winfrey said.
During press appearances last month, Henson discussed pay inequality and fighting for proper compensation. Speaking to The New York Times, she said the cast of “The Color Purple” got “a lot of stuff on that set” because she fought for it.
“They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous,” the “Empire” star said. “Now they robbing people. What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car?
“So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.’ Well, do it for everybody! It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for,” Henson told the publication.
Henson’s co-star Danielle Brooks said Taraji “spoke up for us” behind the scenes, as the cast also didn’t have adequate food until Henson called up Oprah and lodged a complaint.
“We as producers, everybody gets their salary, everybody is negotiated by your team,” Winfrey told ET.
“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,” Winfrey continued. “And I believe that she would even vouch for that and say that is true,” she said of Henson.