Actress Halle Berry lights up Newsom before gov. takes stage at NYT event

Actress Halle Berry stunned a crowd with her pointed criticism of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whom she believes has “overlooked” women.

Speaking about how women are “devalued,” the Oscar-winning actress delivered emotional remarks Wednesday at the New York Times Dealbook Summit, tearing into the Democratic governor as someone who “should not be our next president.”

Berry, who is 59 and is the founder of the menopause care company Respin, spoke passionately about women “navigating midlife” and tore into Newsom, who was set to take the stage later that day, for vetoing a menopause bill in California that she supported.

“At this stage in my life, I have zero f*cks left to give,” Berry said, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which noted that “her comments about Newsom drew some gasps from the audience.”

(Video Credit: New York Times)

“Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one, but two years in a row,” the “Catwoman” star said. “But that’s okay, because he’s not going to be governor forever, and the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.”

According to a press release from Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who introduced the bill, AB 432, The Menopause Care Equity Act:

Menopause and perimenopause impact half the population, yet healthcare coverage, provider education, and public awareness remain severely lacking. Women experiencing these natural life stages are often left to “tough it out” without adequate medical guidance or treatment. AB 432, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, ensures that women receive the comprehensive care they deserve by expanding insurance coverage for menopause-related treatments and requiring healthcare providers to receive proper training on menopause care.

Newsom vetoed the bill once again in November.

“As a founder, I’m building for myself what I wish I had 10 years ago with the knowing that it’s going to help generations and generations to come,” Berry said in her speech on Wednesday.

“In 2025, there is a lot to still be talked about and discovered and uncovered, especially if you are a woman who is navigating midlife and thoughtfully considering your longevity, because in 2025, I, Halle Berry, and women of my age are simply devalued in this country,” she continued.

“Our culture thinks that at 59 years old, I am past my prime, and that women my age start to become invisible in Hollywood, in the workplace, on social media. Women are pressured to stay forever 35. We’re complimented if we seem to be aging backwards or defying gravity, as if that’s even possible, and if we somehow manage to look younger than our years, it’s suggested that’s the gold standard that our worth should be measured by,” Berry said.

“We’re encouraged to contort our bodies and our faces in truly extreme ways to chase this elusive fountain of youth,” she added. “And sadly, I have to admit, I too, feel this pressure every single day. I feel that pressure to change myself in order to stay seen as relevant and desirable.”

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Frieda Powers

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.

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