Oprah Winfrey is breaking her silence on the status of her relationship with Taraji P. Henson following the former ‘Empire’ star coming out about pay disparity for black women in Hollywood.
The media mogul walked the 2024 Golden Globes red carpet on Sunday alongside some of the cast of ‘The Color Purple,’ and during an interview with her good friend, Gayle King for CBS Mornings–she addressed rumors that she and Henson are feuding following the recent public declaration made by Henson.
She also addressed it during an interview with Kevin Frazier for ‘Entertainment Tonight.‘
During the Golden Globes red carpet, Oprah addressed Taraji’s statements, and the reported feud that the public believes they have following her statements which many assumed were aimed at Oprah:
“I would just like to say about this whole Taraji thing … I heard I was trending yesterday,” Winfrey, who served as a producer of the film, told ET’s Kevin Frazier. “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 projection but also everything that everybody needed. So whenever I heard that there was something that someone needed, I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Brothers you know that’s the way the studio system works.”
She added, “We as producers, everybody gets their salary everybody is negotiated by your team. And so, whenever I heard there was an issue or there was a problem, there was a problem with a car or the problem with their food, I would step in and do whatever I could to make it right. And I believe that she would even vouch for that and say that is true.”
Winfrey doubled down on her love for Henson, and shut down the notion that the internet had their relationship all wrong, especially when it came to a photo call in New York City.
“I am all for everybody being the greatest and rising to meet the rising of their own life,” she continued. “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.”
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Get into both interviews below.
Oprah’s statements come just off the heels of a new sit-down special that she did with Taraji for an OWN exclusive where they discuss the film and more. You can view a teaser below and the full special HERE.
