Taraji P. Henson and Oprah Winfrey Set the Record Straight on Their Rumored ‘Feud’

Taraji P. Henson and Oprah Winfrey worked together back in 2023 on The Color Purple. Since then, rumors have swirled that the two very famous ladies have been feuding. Everyone has weighed in, from industry experts to fans to body language experts. The consensus seemed to be that the iconic A-listers not-so-secretly dislike each other. They aren’t going to stand by and let the rumors run wild, though. They have spent years trying to set the record straight; both Oprah Winfrey and Taraji P. Henson have insisted that there is no feud, and there never was one.

How did the feud rumors start?

Rumors that Taraji P. Henson and Oprah Winfrey didn’t like each other began during the press tour for The Color Purple and appear to stem from comments Henson made about on-set conditions. Henson, who portrayed Shug Avery in the 2023 flick, said she was upset when she learned she was expected to drive herself to the set every day rather than have a driver. She said she believed it was dangerous and requested accommodations. Further comments about the early days on the set led fans to think she was throwing shade at Oprah, who served as a producer on the movie.

Rumors were further fueled by an interaction Henson and Winfrey had while promoting the film. Body language experts claimed the women were recoiling from each other during a press event at the Empire State Building. Fans theorized that the ladies were actively arguing during the event, further fueling feud rumors.

Taraji P. Henson and Oprah Winfrey have both addressed the rumors

Ever so often, fans circle back to discuss alleged tension between Taraji P. Henson and Oprah Winfrey. There shouldn’t be much left ot discuss. Both women have addressed the rumors head-on. Both have insisted that there is no truth to the claims and that people who continue to discuss an alleged feud have ulterior motives.  In January 2024, shortly after fans began discussing an odd body language moment between the co-workers, Winfrey stepped forward to dismiss claims about a feud.

Gayle King approached her longtime friend on the Golden Globes red carpet to ask about the feud. Winfrey said she was frustrated by the number of people who were analyzing body language from an event without context. Winfrey insisted that there was no feud. She dismissed their allegedly off-putting body language as due to physical cold and tiredness. She said there was nothing more to it, insisting it was the fourth event they had done that day. Winfrey reiterated that it was freezing at the top of the Empire State Building. Winfrey also told King that there was “no thing” and that people assuming Henson was throwing shade at her while discussing working conditions were reaching. Oprah noted that, as a producer, she was not in control of the film’s budget or its allocation, which is what Henson was talking about during the press tour.

In June 2025, Taraji P. Henson addressed the alleged feud during an appearance on The Breakfast Club. She mentioned the feud, calling it “disrespectful.” Henson said that she took offense because she’s never dragged another woman, and wouldn’t do that to someone like Oprah, whom she insists she is very fond of. She went on to call the reports a concerted effort to put a wedge between the two popular entertainers and to draw attention away from the film.