Halle Berry's Menopause Fiery Speech Yields Result In Less Than 24 Hours

It seems California Governor Gavin Newsom could not handle the heat Halle Berry dished out over a menopause bill.

The drama between the duo began on Wednesday, December 3, when the Hollywood veteran claimed he did not have the right to compete in the 2028 presidential election for "devaluing" women.

Following Halle Berry's scathing statement, Governor Gavin Newsom has since changed his tune on the menopause bill, claiming it was all a big misunderstanding.

Halle Berry Makes California Governor Share His Side Of The Menopause Bill Story

Following Berry's comments about Newsom's decision to veto a menopause bill twice, a rep for the governor explained his side of the story on Wednesday night. They claimed Newsom appreciated the actress's advocacy for women and was working with her to resolve the "critical issue."

As for why he vetoed the menopause bill Berry had actively advocated for, the rep claimed Newsom said no because it would have "unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women and working families already stretched thin."

Newsom has since changed his stance about the menopause bill, telling TMZ's cameraman at the Newark International Airport in New Jersey that it was a big misunderstanding. He claimed the bill had been included in the state's 2026 budget, an update Berry wasn't privy to.

Gavin Newsom Was Forced To Share The News To Clear The Misunderstanding

Newsom implied that there was no bad blood between him and Berry, noting that he was working on clearing up their misunderstanding with her manager. Sources connected to the governor's office added that he was forced to reveal the update in the 2026 budget ahead of schedule.

According to the sources, Newsom had planned on announcing the menopause bill's inclusion in the state's budget on January 10, 2026. However, the backlash stemming from Berry's statement pushed him to break the news sooner, as he did not want the public to misunderstand his intentions.

The Blast covered Berry's scathing remarks, reporting that she slammed Newsom at The New York Times Dealbook Summit. She gave an impassioned speech, calling out the governor for vetoing the menopause bill twice. The "Catwoman" star argued that his actions did not represent a potential presidential candidate.

The Hollywood Icon Criticized The Politician's Presidential Qualities

Berry told the crowd that Newsom had shut down the menopause bill twice in a row, showing that he "overlooked women" who made up half of the population. "By devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying," she concluded.

She went on to stress that Newsom wasn't the only one looking down on women, especially those past their prime, because society liked to place an expiration date on women. Berry used herself as an example, noting that at 59, many expected her to become "invisible."

"Women are pressured to stay forever 35," Berry continued, claiming that older women only received compliments if they appeared to be aging backwards. She confessed that the stigma made her feel pressured to change herself to stay "seen, relevant, and desirable."

Gavin Newsom Is Considering Running For President In 2028

Berry's dig at Newsom came after he admitted that he would consider running for president after the 2026 midterm elections. In an October interview with CBS News, the California Governor couldn't give a clear answer about his possible participation in the 2028 race.

Newsom confessed that the thought of him running for president was "extraordinary," given the numerous challenges he had faced in life, including dyslexia. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment," he added.

Rather than be worried about his possible presidential campaign, Newsom stressed that his primary focus was on passing Proposition 50, a California ballot measure he has advocated. If passed, the ballot measure would allow state Democrats to change the boundaries of U.S. House districts temporarily.

Halle Berry Has Been A Longtime Advocate Of Menopause Awareness

Berry's clash with Newsom stemmed from her years-long advocacy for more perimenopause and menopause research. The Blast shared in February that her efforts toward this cause inspired the creation of the website, Respin Health.

The TV personality announced the website's launch in an Instagram post, describing it as a one-stop shop for women to learn more about menopause, share their stories, and become part of an empowered community.

Berry stressed that it was time for women to "shift the narrative around menopause," instead of feeling overwhelmed by it. She also shared her own experiences, revealing that she abruptly found out she was in perimenopause at 54 without any warning from her doctors.

Will Halle Berry respond to Gavin Newsom's claims about the menopause bill?