The Oscar winning actress publicly criticized the California governor for twice vetoing legislation that would mandate comprehensive menopause care coverage for women
Halle Berry had strong words for California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, confronting him publicly just moments before he walked on stage at a star studded event. The Oscar winning actress angrily accused the leading Democratic contender for the 2028 presidency of devaluing women after he vetoed a menopause bill that she had tirelessly championed.
She said that his stance made him unqualified to be the next US president, a race Governor Newsom has said he is considering entering. The confrontation happened during Berry’s appearance at the New York Times DealBook Summit, creating an awkward moment for the governor who followed her on stage.
Back in California, Governor Newsom has vetoed the menopause bill not once but two years in a row, Berry told the audience. She added that while he would not be governor forever, the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing them means he probably should not be the next president either.
The Halle Berry menopause advocacy push
The bipartisan bill titled Menopause Care Equity Act would, if passed, have mandated comprehensive health insurance coverage for women experiencing menopause and perimenopause symptoms. It also stipulated that the California Medical Board create a menopause specific curriculum and would require doctors to complete ongoing menopause related education.
Berry has been an outspoken advocate for menopausal women since discovering in 2024 that she had been in perimenopause for 10 years but had been misdiagnosed as having Herpes. The revelation sparked her determination to ensure other women receive proper care and information.
Women begin the process of menopause usually between the age of 45 and 55 when the estrogen levels in their bodies start to drop leading to the cessation of their monthly period. During the process, women typically experience hot flashes, mood swings, headaches, insomnia and have trouble concentrating. They also see physical changes including dry skin and thinning hair as the hormonal makeup of their body resets.
Last year, the Hollywood star proudly declared that she was in menopause while joining a group of bipartisan senators at the US Capitol to push for legislation that would allocate $275 million toward research and education for menopause. The shame has to be taken out of menopause, she said at the time. Doctors cannot even say the word to patients, let alone walk them through the journey.
Women devalued at midlife
Berry’s remarks Wednesday came during a conversation about her work as an entrepreneur and advocate for women’s health. She explained how she has been on a mission to help future generations navigate midlife with dignity and information.
In 2025 there is a lot to still be talked about and discovered and uncovered, especially for women who are navigating midlife and thoughtfully considering their longevity. Women of her age are simply devalued in this country, she said.
The mom of two said society routinely acts as though women approaching 60 are past their prime and increasingly invisible across industries, including Hollywood. The culture thinks that at 59 years old, she is past her prime. Women are pressured to stay forever 35 and get complimented if they seem to be aging backwards or defying gravity, as if that is even possible.
Berry admitted she too feels the overwhelming pressure to look younger to remain seen, relevant and desirable. The expectations placed on women to maintain youth create impossible standards that erase the value and contributions of older women.
A personal turning point
Her speech turned deeply personal as she recounted a defining moment from childhood in Cleveland, when she was beaten up by other kids as she stepped off a school bus. As they walked off laughing, she was left to pick herself up shirtless out of the gutter. She felt humiliated because she had allowed herself to be treated that way and thought she deserved it.
But that painful walk home became a turning point. She decided she would never allow that to happen again and would always stand up for herself. Since sixth grade, she has never allowed herself to be misused or abused or mistreated in any way.
That childhood resolution now fuels her advocacy for women’s health and her willingness to publicly challenge powerful political figures like Governor Newsom. Her confrontation at the DealBook Summit demonstrated her commitment to standing up not just for herself but for all women facing discrimination in healthcare and society.
The timing of Berry’s criticism could not have been more pointed, coming just before Governor Newsom’s own appearance at the high profile event. The governor has positioned himself as a champion of progressive causes and women’s rights, making the veto particularly controversial for someone eyeing a presidential run.
Right now Halle Berry gets it. Gavin Newsom should not be president. Who knows what she’ll believe in days ahead. pic.twitter.com/UhO3CQsdOx
— Therealrob (@Therealrobx) December 4, 2025