Halle Berry Issues Blunt Political Takedown of Gavin Newsom
What To Know
- Halle Berry publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing a menopause care bill and questioned his suitability for the presidency.
- Berry called on both women and men to join the fight for better menopause care.
- Newsom’s office responded by expressing support for expanding menopause care but stated the bill was vetoed to avoid increasing healthcare costs for working women.
Halle Berry issued a blunt political takedown of California Governor Gavin Newsom by slamming his veto of a menopause bill and criticizing his presidential aspirations.
On Wednesday, December 3, the Catwoman star, 59, spoke at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York City.
“Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill,” she pointed out. “Not one but two years in a row. But that’s OK because he’s not going to be governor forever.”
Berry then boldly pointed out, “And with the way he’s overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us in mid-life, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.”
Additionally, the Die Another Day actress, who is also the founder of Respin Health, called for women across the nation to “fight with me.” She added, “But the truth is, the fight isn’t just for us women. We need men, too. We need all of the leaders, every single one of you in this room, this fight needs you. We need you to stay curious. We need you to ask questions. We need you to care, even when the topic feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. We need you to have the conversation anyway.”
Berry concluded, “Because when women are struggling silently through perimenopause and menopause — trying to hold their families, careers, relationships, and communities together — it doesn’t just affect women. It affects every household. It affects the workplace. It affects the economy.”
As it so happened, Newsom was the next guest to take the stage at the DealBook Summit. The politician, 58, spoke with host Andrew Ross Sorkin about changes needed within the Democratic Party after losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump. However, Newsom did not address Berry’s comments during the discussion.
The Menopause Care Equity Act in California, if passed, would have required health plans to cover menopause-related treatments. Newsom most recently vetoed it in October; his term as governor ends in January 2027, and he is not able to run again due to term limits. In October, he said he would make a decision about a 2028 presidential run after the 2026 midterm elections.
A spokesperson for Newsom, Izzy Gardon, told The New York Post in a statement, “The governor has deep admiration for Ms. Berry’s advocacy and looks forward to working with her and other stakeholders on this critical issue. He shares her goal of expanding access to menopause care that too many women struggle to get.”
Gardon explained, “He vetoed the bill because, as written, it would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women already stretched thin — something he’s determined to avoid.”
She concluded, “We’re confident that by working together this year, we can expand access to essential menopause treatment while protecting women from higher bills.”