During an interview on SiriusXM with Gayle King to promote her latest film, “The Color Purple,” Taraji P. Henson found herself overwhelmed with emotion. King, delving into the depths of Henson’s career, asked about rumors she’d heard regarding Henson contemplating quitting acting. In response, Henson tearfully revealed her profound frustration with the persistent issue of being undervalued and underpaid in Hollywood. This is despite her accolades, reaching a breaking point amidst her ongoing struggles in the industry. Taraji P Henson’s Candid Take about the Hollywood pay gap was emotional and worth support from other industry players.
Reasons behind Taraji P Henson’s Displeasure
“I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost,” Henson reiterated. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired. I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ Well, I have to. The math ain’t math-ing. When you start working a lot, you have a team. Big bills come with what we do. We don’t do this alone. It’s a whole team behind us. They have to get paid.”
Henson elaborated, expressing, “When you hear about big earnings like $10 million, that’s not what lands in your bank account. After taxes, that halves to $5 million. Then your team takes 30% from the gross, not the net after taxes. Do the math. It’s draining. Each time I shatter barriers, when it’s time to renegotiate, I start from scratch as if my achievements never happened. I’m exhausted. It wears you down. What message does that send? If I can’t advocate for those following my path, what’s the point?”
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The Emotional Stress
The emotional strain was palpable as Henson was almost in tears. She detailed that despite her triumphs, she’s often told there’s little financial opportunity. This is blamed on the misconceptions about the global appeal of Black narratives in entertainment and other invalid justifications.
“I’ve had enough of hearing that throughout my entire career,” expressed Henson. “Over two decades in this industry, and I keep hearing the same excuses while witnessing how resources are allocated differently for other projects. Then, when it’s time to advocate for us, suddenly there’s a shortage of funds. I’m expected to grin and bear it, but I’ve had it! That’s why I’ve ventured into other [ventures]. This industry, if allowed, will drain your spirit. I refuse to let that happen.”
Backing Henson’s sentiment, Blitz Bazawule, director of “The Color Purple,” affirmed her statement. Bazawule recounted his struggle to secure casting for all the leading actors, despite their established successes. He highlighted the injustice, stating,
“It felt as though your accomplishments meant nothing when I mentioned your names to the studio. Each of you had to audition for roles that should have been a given, roles that shouldn’t even be up for debate.”
SAG-AFTRA Interview by Variety’s Angelique Jackson with Taraji P Henson
Before her SiriusXM interview, Henson engaged in a SAG-AFTRA conversation with Variety’s Angelique Jackson, where she disclosed considering turning down “The Color Purple”. This was due to payment concerns, and she wanted to set an example for her female co-stars. She revealed a stagnation in her income since her lead role in the 2018 action film “Proud Mary.”
“If I don’t take a stand, how am I paving the way for Fantasia? For Danielle [Brooks]?” questioned Henson. “What’s the point? We’re here to support each other.”
Henson has consistently raised her voice against Hollywood’s unfair pay practices. In a 2019 interview with Variety, she unveiled that she was initially offered $100,000 for a role opposite Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,”. The performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Despite negotiating it up to $150,000, it fell significantly short of the $500,000 she anticipated, considering her third-billed position in a Fincher-helmed studio project.
The Race Card Disparity
“At that time, I want to clarify – I’m not suggesting Brad or Cate shouldn’t have received what they did,” clarified Henson. “They draw audiences, so they deserve their compensation. I’m not disputing that. I simply asked for half a million – that’s all. When I did ‘Benjamin Button,’ I wasn’t valued at a million yet. My audience was still getting acquainted with me. We sought what was fair for me, then.”
“I requested half a million. That’s all,” emphasized Henson. “And they offered me $100,000. Does that add up? I’m third on the call sheet. Does that make sense to you? We simply asked for $500,000 – that’s it.”
Later on, Robin Thede, the creator of “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” shared Henson’s emotional SiriusXM interview on X (formerly Twitter), affirming that Henson was “speaking absolute truth.” This reveals the intensity of the matter as Taraji P Henson Candid take about the Hollywood pay gap continues.
High Taxes and Commissions
“70-80% of the GROSS income vanishes upfront for taxes and commissions (agents, managers, lawyers),” Thede outlined. “And for those handling additional employees? Oh, the complexity! The numbers just don’t add up! I get it – you might think $10M minus $8M equals $2M… Sure, that’s accurate. But let’s be real, $10M is EXCEPTIONAL! Most beloved Black actresses earn around $250k-$500k for LEADING roles in movies (which boils down to $50-$100k net) and might secure just ONE project annually.”
With the taxes and commissions taking up junk of the money earned, it is only fair that Black actresses get paid for what they are worth.