Halle Berry has pulled no punches in her latest criticism of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, accusing him of making empty promises over their public disagreement over menopause health care.
The Oscar winner revealed to The cut that despite Newsom previously claiming the two “reconciled” their differences, she never actually heard from him.
The tension stems from the governor’s lack of support for the Menopause Care Equity Act, a bill Berry has championed to help women navigate midlife health challenges.
Berry expressed her deep frustration with what she sees as a lack of follow-through, stating, “It’s disturbing when people say they’re going to do things and then they don’t.”
She went even further, suggesting that Newsom’s potential political aspirations may be in jeopardy if he continues to ignore the needs of women.
“But he heard what I said. If he wants to run for our next president, he can’t sleep on women. Wake up, Gavin,” she added.
The feud became public last December when Berry spoke at the New York Times DealBook Summit and argued that Newsom’s decision to overlook menopause effectively devalues half the population.
She famously noted that if men experienced similar symptoms such as disturbed sleep and decreased brain function, “[we’d] call it a health crisis on the level of Covid and the whole world would shut down.”
Berry highlighted the economic impact of the issue, pointing out that one in six women are forced out of the workforce due to menopausal symptoms, which ultimately affect every household and the wider economy.
The legislation in question would have required insurance companies to cover necessary treatments and required doctors to receive ongoing menopause education.
While Newsom told TMZ that they “reconciled this” after Berry’s comments went viral, Berry insists there has been no contact.
In response to her latest remarks, a spokesperson for Newsom called Berry’s comments “very unfortunate.”
The governor’s office previously defended its veto by explaining that the bill, as originally written, would have inadvertently increased health care costs for working families.
However, his team maintains that Newsom has now made a proposal to support menopause care through the state budget, which they argue is consistent with his previous promises to address the issue.
Berry remains steadfast in her stance and encourages both men and women to join the fight for better medical support.
She emphasized that the struggle is not just for women, and encourages leaders to remain curious and care about the topic, even when it feels “unfamiliar and uncomfortable.”
