Oprah Doesn’t Have Beef With Taraji P. Henson: ‘I’ve Been The Greatest Champion Of This Film’

Oprah Winfrey is shutting down rumors by confirming that all is well between her and "The Color Purple" star Taraji P. Henson.

Oprah Winfrey knows about the rumors surrounding her alleged feud with Taraji P. Henson. According to the billionaire media mogul, all is well between her and The Color Purple star.

Henson hasn’t been holding back during the press tour for The Color Purple musical and recently opened up about her advocacy for the cast to make sure they received food, trailers, and safe transportation during filming. While Henson, who played Shug Avery in the film, acknowledged the help and support she received from Winfrey when voicing her concerns, many are still convinced that there might be a feud brewing between the two.

However, the OWN creator, who served as a producer on the film and starred as Sofia in the 1985 original, is shutting down any speculation surrounding her relationship with Henson.

“People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji,” Oprah told Entertainment Tonight. “Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film.”

“Championing not only the behind-the-scenes projection but also everything that everybody needed,” she added. “So whenever I heard that there was something that someone needed … I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Bros. That’s the way the studio system works.”

Winfrey says the cast had her full support with any concerns brought to her attention and is adamant that Henson would attest to her claims.

“We as producers; everybody gets their salary, and everybody is negotiated by your team,” she continued. “And so, whenever I heard there was an issue or there was a problem; there was a problem with cars or the problem with their food, I would step in and do whatever I could to make it right. And I believe that [Taraji] would even vouch for that and say that is true.”

Winfrey’s response comes after Henson’s recent Q&A with The New York Times, where she said that she and “The Color Purple” cast only got “a lot of stuff on set” after she spoke up to advocate for them.

“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,” Henson said.

“What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car? So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.’ Well, do it for everybody! It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for.”