Taraji P. Henson Tearfully Expresses Frustration Over Pay Inequality Black Actresses Face [Video]

Taraji P. Henson is growing tired of the pay discrepancies that she and other Black actresses face in Hollywood.

The entertainer sat down with Gayle King on SiriusXM radio as part of the press run for “The Color Purple.” During this chat, she opened up about the pay inequality she has faced throughout her career. This has led Henson to consider retiring from the movie industry. To make the situation more grim, Henson expressed that after taxes and paying her team, she is typically left with very little since she receives a fraction of what other stars make. Henson’s admission was made painfully evident when she spoke out in her 2019 interview with Variety about the low pay she received for the 2008 film, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. She initially asked for $500,000 to appear in the movie but was ultimately paid only $150,000. To add insult to injury, Henson was forced to cover her own living expenses while shooting the film, which also cut into her already low pay.

“I’m tired of hearing my sisters saying the same thing over and over. I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ I have to. The math ain’t mathing,” Henson emotionally explained to King.

Joined by fellow “The Color Purple” co-star Danielle Brooks and filmmaker Blitz Bazawule, Henson shared that she wants to fight for them and the newer actresses coming into the industry after her.

“If I can’t fight for them coming up behind me, then what the f**k am I doing?” Henson asked.