Oprah Winfrey is bending over backwards to disprove rumors that there is animosity between herself and “Color Purple” star Taraji P. Henson.
In multiple interviews, Taraji suggested that Oprah’s production company was cheap when it came to her salary and perks on the set of “The Color Purple” musical.
Oprah quickly resolved Taraji’s pay dispute, but then the actress complained that she was forced to drive herself to the set in Atlanta, where crime is out of control.
ET’s Kevin Frazier asked Oprah about Taraji’s controversial statements at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday in Beverly Hills.
“I heard I was trending yesterday,” Oprah said. “People were saying 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 production but also everything that everybody needed.”
Oprah said she was not involved with negotiating salaries as the film’s producer.
“I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Brothers. You know, that’s the way the studio system works, and we as producers, everybody gets their salary that’s negotiated by your team. And so whenever I heard there was an issue or there was a problem – there was a problem with the cars or there was a problem with the food, I would step in and do whatever I could to make it right. And I believe that [Taraji] would even vouch for that and say that it’s true.”
Kevin said he personally saw Oprah step in and put her own money up to resolve problems behind the scenes.
“Yeah, I am all for everybody being the greatest and rising to meet the rising of their own life,” Oprah said.
Oprah also denied allegations that she shunned Taraji during a promotional event at the Empire State Building in New York City.
In the video, Oprah posed with Taraji for pictures before walking away and standing next to actress Danielle Brooks.
@mickmicknyc Oprah Winfrey and The Color Purple stars at the @Empire State Building ?? #oprahwinfrey #esb #empirestatebuilding #oprah #winfrey #thecolorpurple #purple #nyc #newyork ? original sound – New York Mickey
Twitter users assumed there was beef between Taraji and Oprah. But the media mogul denied the allegations.
“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, I was like just trying to stay warm and that was the fourth thing we had done and so … You know, there’s no validity to there being a thing between Taji and I.”
Watch the interview below.
