“I break another glass ceiling, and when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom.”
The Color Purple star became visibly emotional while discussing how the pay disparity and mounting expenses like taxes and payroll leave her earning less.
In a recent SiriusXM interview with Gayle King, Henson got candid about the pay inequity she faces as a Black woman in Hollywood.
Henson sat on the panel with The Color Purple director Blitz Bazawule and actress Danielle Brooks.
“I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost. I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired,” she tearfully revealed.
Despite being an Oscar-nominated actress, Golden Globe winner, and multi-NAACP Image Award winner, the harsh reality of Hollywood’s significant pay inequality has Taraji P. Henson ready to throw in the towel.
Even though Henson has played iconic roles, such as Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Cookie in Empire, to name a few, she revealed her paycheck doesn’t reflect it.
Henson, who plays Shug Avery in the musical adaptation of The Color Purple disputed claims that although an actor makes $10 million on paper, it doesn’t make it to their account.
She also broke down the numbers, including taxes, taking half of what you earn, and having to pay your team.
“Big bills come with what we do. We don’t do this alone. The fact that we’re up here, there’s a whole team behind us. They have to get paid.”
She continued, “Off the top, Uncle Sam is getting 50 percent. So, do the math. Now we have 5 million. Your team is getting 30 percent, or whatever your team is getting off of what you grossed, not after what Uncle Sam took. Now, do the math.”
Previously, Taraji P. Henson mentioned that she fought to earn $150,000 after being offered $75,000 for her Oscar-nominated role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. In addition, she initially requested $500,000.
