Halle Berry criticizes Gavin Newsom's decision on Menopause Bill veto; Governor to speak after Oscar winner at NYC conference today

Although Gavin Newsom has not formally announced a campaign for the White House, the California governor has already lost the support of Halle Berry. Speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference in New York City, the Oscar-winning actress criticized Newsom for vetoing a menopause-related bill for the second year in a row.

In my home state of California, my own governor has rejected our menopause bill two years consecutively, Berry said during an emotional address. Her remarks centered on the treatment of aging women, ongoing health concerns, and the way society undervalues women in midlife.

With Newsom scheduled to appear later the same day, Berrys words cast an uncomfortable spotlight on the governor in front of a high-profile Lincoln Center audience.

By ignoring the needs of women half of the population and minimizing our value during midlife, he has shown that he probably should not be our next president, she said, referencing the growing speculation around a potential 2028 presidential run.

Despite Newsoms reputation for quickly responding to criticism, neither he nor his team had commented at the time of her remarks. It also remained uncertain whether he would address her statements when he took the stage.

In October, Newsom left the bipartisan Menopause Care Equity Act unsigned, effectively blocking it from becoming law. In a message to state legislators, he explained that a similar bill had been vetoed the previous year because it restricted how health plans manage care and costs. He added that the current proposal was still too broad in its requirements and limits on utilization management.

Last month, Berry founder of Respin Health expanded on her criticism in a published opinion piece, stating that independent analyses showed the legislation would have little to no effect on insurance premiums. She called the veto a failure of commitment to women and warned that the ongoing neglect of menopause education in medicine has real and lasting consequences.

At the conference, Berry emphasized that menopause is not a disease and noted that tens of millions of women are affected. She urged women across the country to become more vocal and united.

I need every woman to stand with me, she said.

Berry also made clear that the issue goes far beyond women alone.

This is a fight that requires men too. We need leaders, communities, and anyone in this room to stay curious, ask questions, and care even when the subject feels uncomfortable. When women go through perimenopause and menopause in silence while trying to hold families, careers, and communities together, the impact is universal on homes, workplaces, and the entire economy.

She concluded her speech with an unapologetic call for women to demand better care and respect.

Be bold. Be loud. Do not allow yourself to be diminished during one of the most important stages of your life. The days of women outliving men in poor health are over. We deserve better, she said to strong applause.

Author: Lucas Grant