Taraji P. Henson sobbed when asked if she intends to leave her long-running acting career due to pay disparities in the entertainment industry.
In an interview with Gayle King, the 53-year-old actress expressed dissatisfaction with working hard for a fraction of the pay. She stated she could not negotiate a greater amount despite having expenses such as taxes and hiring a team.
“I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious about 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,” Taraji narrated.
The actress, who won an Oscar for her performance in 2008's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, warned that even large paychecks are swiftly depleted by bills.
She added entertainers frequently have a staff behind them that shares in any payout — and that’s not to mention the chunk seized by 'Uncle Sam'.
The award-winning actress stated that her previous accomplishments, which include many Emmy nominations and an Academy Award nomination, do not carry weight when negotiating pay, and that this is a problem that many Black female performers face.
'The Colour Purple' star sobbed as she stated that she is attempting to "fight" for the next generation of actors and actresses behind her, but that pay discrepancies in Hollywood can "steal your soul," which she will not allow.
She noted that even after decades in Hollywood, she still faces the same challenges.
“And I’m just tired. I'm tired. It wears on you because what is that telling you? And if I can't fight for those coming up behind me, then what am I doing? And then they tell me that we don't translate overseas. I'm tired of hearing that, twenty plus years in the game and when it's time for us to go to bat, they don't have any money,’ she added.
