Taraji P. Henson has been a reigning queen in Hollywood and has stunned the audience with her stellar portrayal of characters across film and television. She was nominated for the Academy Awards for playing Queenie in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. The actress has featured in many money-spinning magnum opuses, including the recent adaptation of ‘The Color Purple’.
Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, and other stalwarts have collaborated on a musical adaptation of Spielsberg’s 1985 feminist drama ‘The Color Purple’. It is a story about Celie, who loses her children and sister after marrying Mister, who puts her in domestic confinement. She breaks free of the shackles after meeting some amazing women. Taraji P. Henson is playing Shug Avery, who has recently vocalized about chauffeur issues on the sets that had internet fuming.
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Taraji P. Henson Raised Security And Safety Concerns Over No Drivers For Rental Cars To ‘The Color Purple’ Sets
Image Courtesy: NPR
Recently, Taraji P. Henson has used her platform and voice to stand for the unjust practices in Hollywood. She recently opened up about race and gender pay parity in the industry. Now, the actress has objected to the chauffeur’s condition on the sets of ‘The Color Purple’. During an interview with ‘The New York Times’, she said that they were allegedly offered rental cars with no drivers, raising security and safety concerns.
Taraji P. Henson said, “They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability; it’s dangerous. Now they robbing people. What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car?”
The actress continued, “So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.’ Well, do it for everybody! It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for. I was on the set of ‘Empire’ fighting for trailers that wasn’t infested with bugs.”
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The Actress’ Statement Has Made The Internet Call Out The Makers
In the same interview, Taraji P. Henson went on a rant about how studios and makers do not capitalize on black artists and take them overseas, despite having fans in other countries. She said, “I have a following in China of all places. Y’all not going to capitalize on that? Don’t everybody want to make money here?”
The ‘Empire’ actress’ revelation has the internet calling out Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.
They really be treating these black actors like slaves…
— 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙞 ᴺᴹ (@BARIJUKU) January 6, 2024
I seriously need people to understand that this is a SAFETY ISSUE! Actors who have been working 10+ hours filming, doing press, etc should not be driving themselves! There’s a reason why this is an industry practice!
— Naeto Furniture Hub (@Naetogroup) January 6, 2024
It’s too bad she has to take on the fight. Some sound simple, but most productions have them. For such a huge movie, they had take care of their stars.
— Mare (@marelette) January 7, 2024
You have to be particularly brazen to keep going when you experience injustice. Does Taraji have that Mo’Nique in her? Time will tell. All the best though ✨
— ™Tt (@wwwTHEEtee) January 7, 2024
Oprah Winfrey & Steven Spielberg should be ashamed of themselves. If this was a Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts or especially Tom Cruise movie they wouldn’t have done that for them.
Taraji been an award winning actress for 20 yrs give her & Black People RESPECT!!!— 𝘴᭙ꫀꫀ𝓽 ᥴꪖ𝘳ꪑꫀꪶ (@SweetCarmel77) January 6, 2024
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