Taraji P. Henson Says She Hopes People Can Return Their Focus To The Color Purple Film And Not Her Viral Comments About Hollywood, “ It Feels Like What I Said Is Becoming Louder Than This Beautiful Film”

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Cousins! In recent months Taraji P. Henson has utilized her platform to help re-amplify valuable conversations regarding Black women in Hollywood and the unequal disparities often faced.

As we previously reported Taraji expressed during a Color Purple press run that she almost turned down the project after she was received a lowball offer. Though the beloved actress’ comments have helped shine a much-needed light on various issues in the entertainment industry, Taraji fears that her words have taken attention of off the project.

In an interview with TODAY.com, Taraji shares she has noticed a shift in focus since speaking out.

“I hope they can focus back onto this film, because right now, to me, it feels like what I said is now becoming louder than this beautiful film,” said Taraji.

“And that’s not fair to me, or anybody in the film,” Henson continues, “because the film deals with women who are oppressed — who live in an oppressed system. Men and women. And all the characters in that film except for the white people. So that movie is about healing. That movie is about sisterhood.”

In previous interviews also spoke out on the conditions actors of the project were prematurely forced to undergo such as driving themselves to and from set. . “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 I do look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car?

Taraji comments were met with much unity as fellow actors also spoke out, however executive producer Oprah Winfrey received much backlash in return.

“I heard I was trending yesterday because people are saying that I was not supporting Taraji,” said Oprah in an interview with ET. “Taraji will tell you herself that I have been the greatest champion of this film, championing not only the behind-the-scenes production but also everything that everybody needed.”

Taraji backed Oprah’s previous statements in agreement that the media mogul did fix any issues brought to her . She also addressed rumors that the two had been feuding behind the scenes. “I see what’s going on, but there’s nothing spin there,” said Taraji to TODAY. “You saw the woman doing the electric slide in the dust with us. She was right there in the field doing the electric slide. She held our hands the entire production. She showed up, she was there — there are producers that don’t show up on set.”

“You know, she called me, she called me personally,” added Taraji. “Not my team, not my people — me. And asked me, ‘Taraji, if there’s anything you need, you let me know.’ And I said it with a shaking voice, I was like, ‘Well, yeah,’ — since she asked. And I told her and she fixed everything the next day.”

“And what you’re not gonna do is pit two Black women together — not on my watch,” says Taraji.