California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly responded to Halle Berry on Friday after the actress accused him of “devaluing women” over his stance on a new transparency law. But according to Newsom’s office, Berry was missing a crucial part of the story.
Earlier this month, Berry criticized the governor after he refused to sign a bill that would have required California companies to disclose salary data broken down by race. To many advocates, including Berry, the bill represented a meaningful step toward closing gender and racial pay gaps.
Berry took to social media, calling out Newsom for “hiding behind excuses” and claiming his decision “continues a system that devalues women, especially women of color.”
But Newsom’s team pushed back, saying the actress had “incomplete information.” According to a spokesperson, the governor did not oppose the transparency effort itself — instead, he rejected the bill because it would have required the state to publicly release individuals’ private salary information, which could violate privacy laws.
“There’s no disagreement about the goal,” the spokesperson said. “The issue was the bill’s structure, not the principle.”
After learning more about the details, Berry said she was willing to “clarify her understanding” and expressed interest in having a direct conversation with Newsom to “work toward real solutions.”
For now, both sides seem committed to easing the tension — but the clash has already sparked a heated public debate about pay equity, transparency, and how California should address long-standing gaps.
