Taraji P. Henson has taken the press run for The Coloration Purple as a possibility to shine a light-weight on a urgent and recurring problem in Hollywood. Nonetheless, her account is bringing again recollections of a fellow Black actress’s expertise in one other Oprah Winfrey-produced movie.
What has Taraji P. Henson mentioned about pay inequality in Hollywood?
“I’m simply bored with working so laborious, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the price,” Henson confessed as she held again tears in an interview with Sirius XM. The award-winning actress has spoken repeatedly in regards to the pay disparity within the trade all through the years. A situation that doesn’t appear to have improved in any vital method, judging by her newer statements whereas selling The Coloration Purple.
Not solely did Henson say she virtually walked away from the venture attributable to an unfair deal, however she additionally mentioned she has thought of quitting appearing altogether, and that she hadn’t acquired a pay rise since Proud Mary in 2018. The revelations have mirrored significantly badly on one of many producers of the 2023 movie, Oprah Winfrey, due to the overlap with one other actress’ related expertise.
Mo’nique’s unhealthy blood with Oprah Winfrey
There are a few explanation why Mo’nique and Oprah Winfrey should not on one of the best of phrases, however the episode that bares some similarities to Taraji P. Henson’s feedback comes from the time the 2 labored on the Oscar-winning movie Treasured. The difficulty then wasn’t wage disputes, per se, however Mo’nique’s refusal to go away the US to advertise the film abroad, totally free.
The 56-year-old actress declined a request to go to Cannes to advertise Treasured throughout her break day to be together with her household, which reportedly didn’t sit nicely with the studio Lionsgate. The actress mentioned in a CNN interview that she and her husband “respectfully declined,” and that it was all a matter of various opinions on whether or not that type of work warranted compensation. In line with a Hollywood Reporter piece from earlier this 12 months, Mo’nique believes Treasured director Lee Daniels, in addition to producers Winfrey and Tyler Perry, then started spreading “rumors that she is a ‘troublesome’ performer.” Daniels has since publicly apologized, however the actress and the 2 producers are nonetheless not speaking to at the present time.
Whereas restricted, Winfrey’s energy to make the decision on what each Mo’nique and Henson must be paid for promotional efforts and appearing roles as a producer remains to be very a lot vital. It’s unclear who made the decision that in the end bought Henson to stay round for The Coloration Purple, however the truth that this isn’t the primary time an Oprah-produced movie has been on the heart of discussions about unfair pay has made individuals wonder if the 69-year-old may very well be the widespread hyperlink.
In the identical CNN interview, Mo’nique made statements about her profession that replicate virtually phrase for phrase what Henson has been quarreling with. “The telephone was ringing and the scripts have been coming,” she mentioned, “the provides simply didn’t make sense.”
“As a result of If I settle for that, and I received the award, what are my sisters being supplied that didn’t win the award? And what does it say to the little woman who’s not right here but that if we proceed to simply accept these low provides? Nonetheless can we make it totally different and make a change?”
Regardless of similarities, Henson has beforehand praised Tyler Perry for his half in getting her honest compensation
In the long run, it’s the system that’s damaged if totally different individuals proceed to undergo the identical struggles after so a few years of calling for change. As a part of that system, its particular person gamers should not free from guilt. Nonetheless, whereas Mo’nique holds Perry and Winfrey accountable for not standing up for her in 2009, Henson has mentioned the previous was one of many first individuals to ever meet her calls for on the set of a movie.
“I used to be asking for half one million. I didn’t receives a commission that till I did my first Tyler Perry movie. He was the primary individual that gave — that broke the usual that I used to be getting paid for movies, and he gave me $500,000,” Henson shared on Selection‘s Actors on Actors.