There has been a flurry of rumors around the production of “The Color Purple,” from pay disparity to a lack of chauffeur-driven cars to shared and cramped trailers. And when these rumors get floated, the name one of the movie’s producers, Oprah Winfrey, seems to be attached. Now the media mogul has responded to the rumors, blaming the studio for the mishap. Henson had also previously expressed her frustration with not being paid enough to star in blockbuster movies.
During the 2024 Golden Globes event, on Jan. 7, Winfrey and her the cast of her film remake “The Color Purple” were present for red carpet interviews with “Entertainment Tonight” regarding what happened during the production of film.
As Finurah previously reported, 2023 “The Color Purple” was released on Christmas Day. The billionaire, who starred in the original “The Color Purple,” served as one of more than a dozen producers for the latest version — a musical adaptation based on the Broadway show.
Although the movie performed well at the box office, it has received negative press due to the received treatment of Henson, who bemoaned what she considers to be her inadequate compensation in the industry while on a publicity tour for the new movie. The “Empire” star later clarified that she was on good terms with Winfrey and that the billionaire offered support.
The Rumors and The Response
During the “Entertainment Tonight” interview, Winfrey shifted the blame to the movie studio Warner Bros., which is responsible for transportation, trailers, and food on set. Winfrey also claimed that whatever Warner Bros. failed to provide anything, she had to step in and ensure the basics were covered.
“I would just like to say about this whole Taraji thing, I heard I was trending yesterday because people are saying that I was not supporting Taraji,” Winfrey said. “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. So whenever I heard that there was something that people needed, I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Bros., you know, that’s the way the studio system works.”
There were rumors circulating about Henson and Winfrey’s relationship not being good after she cried publicly during an interview with Gayle King. She expressed her dissatisfaction with the treatment and the low pay she received in her career. A TikToker created a speculative video that misused a clip, overanalyzing the relationship between Oprah and Henson. The users suggested that there was tension between them based on their body language.
The video made its way to Winfrey who chimed in by saying, “There was something online about us being separated at the top of the Empire State Building. On that particular day, we were so cold, so I don’t know what kind of body language people were talking about. I was literally just trying to stay warm, and that was the fourth thing we had done. There’s no validity to there being a thing between Taraji and I.”
