Oprah Winfrey Reacts To Taraji P. Henson's Viral Comments About Pay Concerns

Oprah Winfrey is shutting down the swirling rumors that shes feuding with The Color Purple star Taraji P. Henson.

After Henson, 53, went viral for breaking down in tears last month over unfair pay disparities Black women face in Hollywood and claiming that she had to fight to get production to supply drivers to transport the cast to the films set, social media users began accusing the billionaire businesswoman of not intervening.

In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight , Winfrey, 69, who is also an executive producer on the musical film adaptation, opened up about the whole Taraji thing at the Golden Globes.  

I heard I was trending yesterday. People were saying I was not supporting Taraji, Winfrey, who also starred as Sofia in Steven Spielbergs original 1985 film adaptation based on Alice Walkers 1982 novel, said. Taraji will tell you herself that Ive been the greatest champion of this film, championing not only the behind-the-scenes production but also everything that everybody needed.

She continued, Whenever I heard that there was something that people needed Im not in charge of the budget because thats Warner Bros., thats the way the studio system works, and we as producers, everybody gets their salary thats negotiated by your team.

Winfrey insisted to ETs Kevin Frazer that anytime she heard there was a problem with the cars or concerns about the food on set, she would step in and do whatever I could to make it right. 

Doubling down, she claimed that Henson would vouch for that and say that its true.

She added: I am all for everybody being the greatest and meeting the rising of their own life. 

The former talk show host went on to address the gossip that she and the Empire alum had static during a photo call for the films cast at the Empire State Building last month. 

Winfrey said that what social media users interpreted as an uncomfortable moment between the two in the viral clip was a result of cold weather that day as everyone attempted to stay warm.

Theres no validity to their being a thing between Taraji and I, Winfrey shared.

Reps for Henson didnt immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment. 

Henson, who stars as jazz singer Shug Avery in 2023s The Color Purple, also cleared the air about the hearsay after gushing over Winfreys leadership on Instagram. 

Ms. OPRAH has been nothing less than a steady and solid beacon of light to ALL OF THE CAST of The Color Purple!!! she wrote  last month. She has provided ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE and UNWAVERING SUPPORT to us all.

The Color Purple is currently playing in theaters.