Halle Berry criticizes Gavin Newsom in live event, stating he 'is not fit to be our next president' prior to his appearance

Halle Berry did not hold back when discussing the treatment of women in both Hollywood and broader American society, including the influence of prominent politicians such as California Governor Gavin Newsom. During her appearance at The New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Berry openly criticized Newsom for rejecting the Menopause Care Equity Act (AB 432) for the second consecutive year.

Berry, who founded the menopause-focused company Respin, expressed her personal support for the legislation and condemned Newsoms repeated veto as a setback for womens health. Speaking to the audience, she declared, At this stage in my life, I have zero f---s left to give. Back in my home state of California, my governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill not once, but two years running. Thats okay though, because he wont be governor forever. By neglecting women, half the population, he likely shouldnt be our next president either. Just saying.

The remarks reportedly caused a stir among attendees, especially since Newsom was slated to speak at the Summit later that day.

The Menopause Care Equity Act aimed to make menopause-related medical treatments more accessible for women. Newsom, however, vetoed the bill in October, citing concerns similar to the previous year that requiring insurance coverage for these treatments with minimal restrictions was too expansive.

In response to Berrys comments, a Newsom spokesperson stated that the governor respects Berrys advocacy and hopes to collaborate with her and other stakeholders to improve access to menopause care. They emphasized that the veto was intended to prevent increased healthcare costs for millions of working women while still striving to enhance treatment availability.

Newsoms current term concludes in January 2027, making him ineligible for reelection as governor. Despite this, he has indicated that he is considering a potential presidential bid following the 2026 midterm elections.

Author: Grace Ellison