In a recent controversy, tensions between Oprah Winfrey and several Black entertainers have escalated, with rapper 50 Cent and actress-comedian Mo’Nique adding fuel to the fire. The situation gained traction after actress Taraji P. Henson called out Oprah for offering her a meager salary for her role in The Color Purple, a film Oprah co-produced. Henson’s disappointment stemmed from her expectation that Oprah, as a Black woman, would advocate for fair pay, especially for other Black women in the industry. Henson revealed that the low offer almost led her to turn down the role entirely.
Henson’s criticism of Oprah has reignited a long-standing feud between Oprah and 50 Cent, as well as Mo’Nique. Both have accused Oprah of attempting to sabotage their careers. Mo’Nique, in particular, has been vocal about her experience being blackballed after refusing to promote the 2009 film Precious—which Oprah produced—without additional compensation. Mo’Nique, who was paid $50,000 for her role, declined to participate in international press tours without pay, leading to her being labeled as “difficult” by industry insiders, including Oprah and Tyler Perry. This label, according to Mo’Nique, significantly harmed her career.
50 Cent has been a vocal critic of Oprah for years, accusing her of being out of touch with the Black community and catering primarily to white audiences. He even named his dog “Oprah” and his cat “Gayle” (after Oprah’s best friend, Gayle King) in a show of defiance. Recently, 50 Cent publicly supported Henson and Mo’Nique, calling for their talents to be recognized and criticizing Oprah and Perry for their treatment of Black entertainers.
Amidst this, Henson seemed to backtrack on her criticism of Oprah, praising her as a “beacon of light” and suggesting that her earlier comments had been misunderstood. This sudden change of tone led many to speculate that Oprah’s team pressured Henson into retracting her statements to prevent potential backlash against The Color Purple.
Oprah’s response to the controversy included a public display of solidarity with Henson, sharing a picture of them together on social media and hinting at a future interview on her show. However, critics have labeled this move as damage control, accusing Oprah of using Henson to repair her image.
Overall, the situation has sparked widespread discussion about Oprah’s influence in Hollywood and her treatment of fellow Black entertainers. While some continue to defend Oprah, others, like 50 Cent and Mo’Nique, remain critical, arguing that she has exploited her power to maintain her own success at the expense of others in the industry.
