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  • 2 months ago
Taraji P. Henson broke down in tears during an appearance on Gayle King's Sirius XM radio show while speaking about pay disparity for Black actresses in Hollywood. King's question comes following Henson sharing similar sentiments with The Hollywood Reporter for a recent cover story. She told THR, "Listen, I've been doing this for two decades and sometimes I get tired of fighting because I know what I do is bigger than me. I know that the legacy I leave will affect somebody coming up behind me ... I've tried twice to walk away [from the business]. But I can't, because if I do, how does that help the ones coming up behind me?"
Transcript
00:00I'm tired of hearing my sister say the same thing over and over.
00:05You get tired.
00:07Taraji P. Henson broke down in tears during an appearance on Gayle King's Sirius XM radio show
00:12while speaking about pay disparity for black actresses in Hollywood.
00:16When King asked the Oscar-nominated star if she's thinking about quitting acting, Henson said this.
00:21I'm just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost.
00:33The star of The Color Purple went on to say this.
00:35I hear people go, you work a lot.
00:37Well, have to.
00:39The math ain't mathin'.
00:41King's question comes following Henson sharing similar sentiments with The Hollywood Reporter for a recent cover story.
00:46She told THR,
00:47Listen, I've been doing this for two decades and sometimes I get tired of fighting.
00:51Because I know what I do is bigger than me.
00:53I know that the legacy I leave will affect somebody coming up behind me.
00:57I've tried twice to walk away from the business, but I can't.
01:00Because if I do, how does that help the ones coming up behind me?
01:03During the Sirius XM interview, Henson also shared this.
01:06It seems every time I do something and I break another glass ceiling,
01:10when it's time to renegotiate, I'm at the bottom again like I never did what I just did and I'm just tired.
01:16Henson's The Color Purple co-star Danielle Brooks also weighed in.
01:19The movie marks the star's first major film role.
01:22Yeah, and what does it tell me?
01:25Yeah.
01:25You know?
01:27And if I can't fight for them coming up behind me, then what the f*** am I doing?
01:30I'm sorry.
01:31Henson's words quickly went viral, with some of her Hollywood peers like Gabrielle Union and Robin Thede reposting the interview in support.
01:38For more on this story, go to THR.com.
01:41This is The Hollywood Reporter News.
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