Jada Pinkett- Smith is letting the world know that she stands with and applauds Taraji P. Henson after she spoke about the pay disparity between men and women.
In a recent interview, Pinkett-Smith shared the same sentiments as Henson and also applauded her courage. “My heart broke for Taraji, and I was also happy to see how courageous she was to speak about it in the way that she did,” said Smith. “One of the things with Taraji is that she is the breadwinner of her family. Her pressures would be different than mine. I have to put that out front, because if it’s time to walk away, that’s not always the solution. Because what people don’t understand with us as Black entertainers, we carry a lot of people with us.”
She continued, “People would literally say, ‘Well, you don’t need it. You’re married to Will. She went on to reveal that because of the way people think it played a role in her moving to the production side of Hollywood. “It’s not to say that I won’t get in front of the camera, but what it takes for me to get in front of the camera, it’s more. Just in regards to the kind of roles that I want to play or that interest me. And I’m thinking about directing.”
After Taraji spoke out about it, she was met with mixed reviews and opinions from her other actors in the industry. Gabrielle Union sided with her, while 50 Cent offered to help her out. Other actors, like Vivica A.Fox, had a difference of opinion.
In January when she was asked about what her former Empire co-Star had said, Fox said that she couldn’t relate and then said, ““But to get your peace out is important. I totally understand that and I love my girls for looking out for each other. But I’m good.”
She later clarified and said, ““Listen, every set’s not gonna be pleasurable. You gon’ get there and there’s gonna be some surprises. The trailer ain’t right or something’s not right. You push through because what’s more important to myself is the work and getting the work done.”
Fox added “As a producer, you gotta make your days—you got 12 hours. You don’t make your day, you’re not going to be working that much anymore. So you learn to push through. So when I said ‘I’m good,’ I’m a worker bee. I have a tendency to not complain, that I do the work. I do the work, I complain afterward, I pick up the phone—if there’s a problem, I call my people. That’s what they’re there for. That’s how they’re supposed to earn their money.”