Oprah Under Fire Over Treatment of Black Actors

Oprah Winfrey has come under fire following Taraji P. Henson's remarks on the pay gap for Black actors in Hollywood.

Henson appeared on Gayle King's SiriusXM show on Wednesday to promote her latest film, The Color Purple, which Winfrey co-produced. The 53-year-old actor broke down while discussing pay disparities, saying that she'd been low-balled her "entire career."

"I'm just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost," she said. "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."

The timing of the conversation made movie fans suspicious. Social media users suggested that Winfrey is underpaying Henson and her Black co-stars—including singer Fantasia Barrino and The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey—on The Color Purple, despite no evidence for the assertion.

Newsweek has reached out to Oprah Winfrey for comment via Instagram and Henson via email.

"Reading between the lines, Oprah and co don't pay Black actors," said Shoobz on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

"Tough to become a billionaire if you pay folks fairly," wrote T M.

"Oprah is one of the richest Black women in the world. Her having a voice on prominent projects where Black women have complained (Mo'Nique & Taraji) about pay but not using it is…something," said @PreciousGNSD.

"Another reason why I don't get why people put her on a pedestal lol she would sell out her momma for a check," commented Ms Grippy.

"Oprah's skin is black but she moves like the rich white man her wealth has allowed her to be," said Jasmine.

However, others defended the 69-year-old TV star, with @JordanHMichael asking: "Do you believe Oprah is paying these actresses directly out her pockets?"

"Oprah had never to do with it, it's the studio executives that set and have power of that," said CM. "Just because you're an executive producer doesn't mean you have final + all say."

"It's the STUDIOS, not the EPs that pay actors their salaries," agreed Allison Parker. "Educate yourself next time before speaking on something you obviously know nothing about."

In the interview with King, Henson admitted she had considered quitting acting because of low pay.

"I'm only human," the Empire star said. "It seems 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.

"If I can't fight for them coming up behind me then what the f*** am I doing?"

J. Christopher Hamilton—assistant professor of television, radio and film at Syracuse University—said Henson's revelations were no surprise to people of color working in the entertainment industry.

"The research, data leaks, labor disputes and talent have articulated this for decades," he told Newsweek.

"Those in the trenches of storytelling know all too well that if you're Black, you don't get paid what's fair or what you try to negotiate. Instead, you're paid what was allocated for a "Black creative," which will be even less if you're a Black female."

He said it's common for roles to be written "innately" white, and for producers to offer lower salaries to Black talent or to cut production costs of Black-led projects. According to McKinsey & Company's 2021 report on Black Representation in Film and TV, these systemic barriers total $10 billion in untapped revenue a year.

"As offensive or shocking as some of this may sound, it's just how things work in Tinseltown," Hamilton said. "Black actors are paid less because they are valued less [by the industry]."

After Henson's interview went viral, other Black stars offered their support, with actor Gabrielle Union sharing her own experiences on X.

"Not a damn lie told," she wrote alongside a clip of the interview. "We go TO BAT for the next generation and hell even our own generation and above.

"We don't hesitate to be the change that we all need to see AND it takes a toll on your mind, health, soul, and career if we're keepn it."

Comedian Robin Thede agreed, posting to Instagram: "Taraji is telling the absolute TRUTH. The math ain't mathing."

In her 2016 memoir, Around the Way, Henson said she was paid "less than 2 percent of Brad Pitt's salary" for the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

The Golden Globe winner accepted the part as Pitt's adoptive mother because "there were so few parts with weight for black actors at the time." The role landed her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 2008 Oscars, but Henson said the industry leaves Black actresses "diving for the crumbs of the scraps, lest we starve."

Henson stars as singer Shug Avery in the latest version of The Color Purple, set for release on December 25. An adaptation of the stage musical, it is the second time Alice Walker's Pulitzer prize-winning novel has been brought to the big screen, with Steven Spielberg first adapting the book in 1985.

The Color Purple was Winfrey's movie debut, starring alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery and Adolph Caeser. A commercial and critical success, the film was nominated for 11 Oscars, including a Best Supporting Actress nod for Winfrey.

Update 12/22/23, 07:15 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from J. Christopher Hamilton.