Mo’Nique, in response to Taraji P. Henson’s recent revelation about her challenging experience on the set of “The Color Purple,” has voiced her opinion and shared that she had expressed a similar sentiment years ago.
RELATED STORIES: Taraji P Henson Sheds Tears After Receiving A Standing Ovation From ‘The Talk’ Audience
During her conversation with James R. Sanders from The Root, the actress who won an Academy Award expressed her belief that Henson and her fellow actors deserved better treatment, particularly considering that they were personally chosen for the film.“So, when Oprah Winfrey sits at the helm, and Taraji P. Henson says, ‘It’s an honor that we were hand-picked for this movie,’ Well, if they were hand-picked for that movie, those women should have been taken care of from the moment go,” Mo’Nique explained.
At first, Mo’nique noticed how Oprah responded to Taraji’s situation after it gained attention in the media. She believed the influential media mogul did not exhaust all possible efforts to support Henson and other black women working on the set: “Everything was, ‘Didn’t I champion for y’all?’ I was like, ‘Stop it. You didn’t champion for those Black women, for our sisters. What [she] did was, ‘We can treat them like we always treat them, who gon’ check me boo? I’m Oprah Winfrey,’” Mo’Nique’s husband and manager, Sidney Hicks, shared his perspective on the matter, stating that Oprah should have taken responsibility for addressing and resolving any potential problems on set. Mo’Nique chimed in, asserting that Oprah was caught in a compromising situation: “Oprah got caught. That’s what happened.”
RELATED STORIES: Oprah Winfrey Addresses Taraji P. Henson Feud Rumors: “There’s No Validity To There Being A Thing Between Taraji And I”
As previously reported, Oprah addressed the rumors that she and Henson had an alleged feud and questioned why she was mentioned in anything.
“I would just like to say about this whole Taraji thing … I heard I was trending yesterday. 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,”
In a recent interview with The New York Times, acclaimed actress Taraji P. Henson shed light on the challenges she faced while working on the set of The Color Purple. Henson, who portrayed the character Shug Avery, expressed concerns about the lack of adequate transportation arrangements provided by the production team.
Henson, 53, revealed that she was given a rental car to commute to the set in Atlanta. However, she promptly raised concerns about the safety and insurance liability of driving herself. “I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta. This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous,” she emphasized. Henson firmly believed that it was the production team’s responsibility to ensure their cast members’ safety.
Recognizing the potential risks involved, Henson requested a driver or security personnel to accompany her during her commute to the set. “I’m not asking for the moon,” she stated. However, she was met with resistance from the production team, who argued that if they made an exception for her, they would have to do the same for everyone else. Henson firmly believed that such basic safety measures should be provided for all cast members without question.
