Audio By Carbonatix
Taraji P. Henson rebukes any rumours of a behind-the-scenes beef with Oprah Winfrey over The Color Purple.
On December 12, the film's cast and crew, including Henson, Winfrey, Danielle Brooks, Fantasia Barrino, and director Blitz Bazawule were in New York City to light the Empire State Building purple.
On Thursday, Henson went to Instagram with a candid photo taken with Winfrey during the event, also sharing a statement that refuted any allegations of the two having a rift.
"It is so important for black women and ALL women of colour to support each other," Henson began the caption. "It is also imperative to have women of colour in decision-making positions across ALL industries."

Thanking fans for supporting her message about being unvalued as a Black actress with "compassion, understanding and support," Henson went on to directly thank Winfrey.
"Ms. OPRAH has been nothing less than a steady and solid beacon of light to ALL OF THE CAST of The Color Purple!!!" Henson continued. "She has provided ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE and UNWAVERING SUPPORT to us all."
Henson added, "She told me personally to reach out to her for ANYTHING I needed, and I did! It took ONE CALL… ONE CONVERSATION… and ONE DECISION MAKING BLACK WOMAN to make me feel heard."
@mickmicknyc Oprah Winfrey and The Color Purple stars at the @Empire State Building #oprahwinfrey #esb #empirestatebuilding #oprah #winfrey #thecolorpurple #purple #nyc #newyork ♬ original sound - New York Mickey
Although Henson, who plays Shug Avery in the musical film adaptation of The Color Purple, didn't specify the conversation that was had with Winfrey, it may have to do with producers originally wanting Beyoncé or Rihanna to play the character.
"To be completely honest about it, if you were doing this film for $30 or $40 million, the interest in the cast would be very different," Winfrey told The Hollywood Reporter.
"Once the film moved to $90 to $100 million, then everybody wants us to bring Beyoncé. 'Can you get Beyoncé or can you get Rihanna?' So we're sitting in a room saying, 'Listen, we love Beyoncé. We love Rihanna, but there are other actors who can do this job.'"
Henson's has been more forthcoming with her grievances with Hollywood's treatment of Black women, namely, being overworked for low pay and not receiving commercial endorsements for playing Cookie Lyon on the former musical drama Empire.
OH SHE’S DONE PLAYING WITH YALLL pic.twitter.com/S0vGpDFAUj
— Welington (@WelingtonOnAir) December 20, 2023
Latest Stories
-
AG joins plaintiff to scrap OSP ?: We should be mindful of the mischief in this – Bobby Banson
6 minutes -
Samson Lardy Anyenini questions willingness of Attorneys-General to prosecute political colleagues
9 minutes -
It is only fair the OSP is heard in Supreme Court case – Bobby Banson
14 minutes -
Asiedu Nketia resumes Ashanti tour, second leg kicks off on Sunday
23 minutes -
NLA denies salary cut claims, threatens legal action over reports
27 minutes -
BoG Governor honoured for stabilising cedi, improve inflation
29 minutes -
Trade Minister applauds GUTA as a pillar of economic growth; Prez Mahama honoured
1 hour -
President’s brother’s takeover of Damang Mines is ‘untidy’ – Alhassan Tampuli
2 hours -
It’s not true that gov’t decided not to renew the lease for Gold Fields – Bobby Banson
2 hours -
Ghana to boost tomato production with 60-hectare irrigated farms and processing initiatives
2 hours -
E&P’s takeover process of Damang Mines was very clean – Inusah Fuseini
2 hours -
Damang takeover: There is not going to be any job loss; it is a lease change – Bobby Banson
2 hours -
Gold Fields didn’t stop mining at Damang mines; such claims are untrue – Bobby Banson
3 hours -
Engineers and Planners currently operate only in Ghana – Bright Simons
3 hours -
Lands Minister has no legal basis to restrict lease to Ghanaian firms – Bright Simons
3 hours