(Courtesy: @tarajiphenson/Instagram, @oprah/Instagram)
Oprah Winfrey tries to set the record straight between her and “The Color Purple,”star Taraji P. Henson after her production concerns went viral.
In the past few weeks, Henson has been vocal about systemic issues of unfair treatment of Black actors in Hollywood during The Color Purple press tour.
Henson told The New York Times in a published article that she had to fight for a lot of on set during the filming of The Color Purple.
“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. 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.”
She said she was told if they accommodate her then they’d have to do it for everybody.
“Well, do it for everybody!” she responded.
“It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for,” she added.
During the 81st Golden Globes Awards, Oprah spoke to Entertainment Tonight to address the rumours between her and Henson.
“I heard I was trending yesterday because 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 production but also everything that everybody needed,” Winfrey said.
Since Oprah was one of the Executive Producers for The Color Purple, people assumed she was the one to blame for Henson’s production set concerns.
“Whenever I heard that there was something that people needed, I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Brothers you know that’s the way the studio system works and we as producers everybody gets their salary that’s negotiated by your team and so whenever I heard there was an issue or there was a problem there was a problem with the cars or there’s a problem with the food I would step in and do whatever I could to make it right,” Winfrey said.
“I believe that she would even vouch for that and say that it’s true,” she added.
