Oprah Winfrey is clearing things up following a string of remarks made by The Color Purple star Taraji P. Henson.
Henson has been opening up about the challenges she has faced in Hollywood despite being an established female actor in the industry. The Empire alum called out the pay disparity and how she had to fight for a driver to take her to the set of the musical.
Winfrey, an executive producer on the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, became a trending topic on social media, with many asking why the media mogul didn’t intervene.
“I heard I was trending yesterday. People were saying I was not supporting Taraji,” Winfrey said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Golden Globes. “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.”
She continued, “Whenever I heard that there was something that people needed — I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Bros., that’s the way the studio system works and we as producers, everybody gets their salary that’s negotiated by your team.”
Winfrey reiterated that whenever she “heard there was a problem with the cars” or “with the food” she would “step in and do whatever I could to make it right,” noting that Henson “would vouch for that and say that it’s true.”
“I am all for everybody being the greatest and meeting the rising of their own life,” she added.
Winfrey also addressed the rumors that there was tension between her and Henson during a photo call at the Empire State Building. The former daytime talk show host said it was particularly cold that day and she was just trying to stay warm.
“There’s no validity to their being a thing between Taraji and I,” Winfrey said.
Watch Winfrey’s full statement in the video below.
