NEW YORK, NY — In a development that’s sending tremors through Hollywood, rapper and television mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has reignited his long-standing feud with Oprah Winfrey — and this time, he’s dragging her into the center of one of the most emotionally charged disputes currently unfolding in Black entertainment.

The spark? Actress Taraji P. Henson’s public outcry over what she claims was a deeply disrespectful offer for her role in The Color Purple, a film co-produced by Oprah. Henson, a Golden Globe winner with decades of acclaim behind her, says she hasn’t seen a significant raise in her acting fees since 2018’s Proud Mary — despite her growing stature and cultural impact.

“I almost walked away from The Color Purple,” Henson admitted during a tearful panel appearance. “I haven’t seen a raise in years… and I thought being a Black woman, Oprah would understand. But she did the exact opposite.”

Henson’s comments didn’t stay in the vacuum of social media for long. Within hours, 50 Cent — never one to mince words — posted a direct call to arms on his Instagram. Over a screengrab of the controversy, he wrote:

“They dropped the ball. F*** them. Taraji, I’m ready to work. Let’s get it.”

And just like that, the powder keg exploded.

A Long Time Coming

This isn’t 50 Cent’s first rodeo with Oprah. The Queens native has for years accused Winfrey of building her billion-dollar empire by using — and then discarding — Black entertainers. At the heart of his criticism: a belief that Oprah uplifts the voices of some while systematically ignoring or undermining others who come from less polished, “grittier” backgrounds.

In 2006, when 50 Cent was one of the most recognizable names in hip-hop, he publicly slammed Oprah for refusing to invite him on her show — despite similar appearances from more pop-crossover figures. “She caters to older white women,” 50 said at the time. “She was completely against everything in my music… I was never going to reach that platform.”

The snub stung not just professionally, but personally. 50 Cent had hoped to use an Oprah appearance to show his grandmother — a lifelong Winfrey fan — that he had truly “made it.” Instead, he turned his frustration into satire, famously naming his dog “Oprah” and his cat “Gale,” a dig at Winfrey’s longtime friend and CBS anchor Gayle King.

Years later, the bitterness hasn’t softened — and now, with Taraji P. Henson’s revelations, 50 Cent is doubling down.

Mo’Nique, Ludacris, Chappelle: Patterns and Allegations

Taraji’s situation isn’t isolated. 50 Cent was one of the few high-profile figures to support comedian and actress Mo’Nique when she claimed that Oprah, along with Tyler Perry and director Lee Daniels, “blackballed” her after she refused to do unpaid promotion for the 2009 film Precious — for which she was paid only $50,000.

Mo’Nique said she felt exploited and disrespected. In turn, Oprah and her allies allegedly painted her as “difficult to work with,” a reputation that severely limited her career for years.

50 wasn’t having it.

“All in favor of Mo’Nique being back on top say MAKE IT HAPPEN,” he posted, later casting her in a major role in season 2 of his series BMF.

He also demanded public apologies from both Oprah and Perry:

“This has gone on for way too long… I’m going to put her back on.”

Then there’s rapper and actor Ludacris, who accused Oprah of editing a 2005 Oprah Winfrey Show appearance to make him look bad. While promoting Crash, Ludacris claimed Oprah seemed more interested in grilling him about lyrics in his music than in discussing the Oscar-winning film. His rebuttals? Reportedly left on the cutting room floor.

Even comedy legend Dave Chappelle had his tense moment. After he turned down a $50 million Comedy Central deal and retreated to Africa for what he described as his mental and emotional safety, Oprah interviewed him — but focused heavily on his mental health, interrupting him and pushing the “paranoia” narrative.

“They were trying to convince me I was insane,” Chappelle said during the segment. “They tried to get me to take psychotic medication. Oprah didn’t want to talk about that… she just kept saying I was stressed.”

A Cultural Flashpoint

For critics of Oprah — and they are many, though often muted in the industry — these aren’t just isolated incidents. They point to a pattern: A tendency to hold Black artists to a different standard, and to use her influence in ways that silence dissent or push forward an idealized version of success that excludes grittier, more street-wise experiences.

For her part, Oprah has largely remained silent amid the renewed firestorm. A representative for Winfrey declined to comment on 50 Cent’s latest statements or on Taraji P. Henson’s accusations.

But that silence is not sitting well with everyone. Online, many are taking sides — and the tide may be shifting.

“She’s built her empire off the backs of Black actors, and now doesn’t want to pay them,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). “First Mo’Nique, now Taraji. And y’all called them bitter?”

Another added:

“You mean to tell me The Color Purple made over $18 million on opening day, and Taraji only got $500k? That’s a slap in the face.”

A Larger Reckoning?

What’s unfolding isn’t just about one movie, one actress, or one mogul. It’s a snapshot of a broader cultural reckoning — one that challenges the gatekeeping power structures in Hollywood, even within the Black community.

50 Cent, often criticized for his unfiltered takes, is playing a complex role here: agitator, advocate, and power broker. He’s offering roles, platforms, and paychecks — the very things he accuses Oprah of withholding.

And his words carry weight. Not just because he’s a celebrity, but because he’s giving voice to what many have whispered for years.

Whether Oprah responds — or remains above the fray — remains to be seen. But as 50 Cent continues to call her out, and as more artists begin to speak up, one thing is clear: the silence is breaking, and the conversation about power, pay, and fairness in Black Hollywood is no longer behind closed doors.