When Halle Berry speaks, Hollywood—and apparently Sacramento—listens. The Oscar-winning icon just called out California Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing a bill that would have expanded menopause care for women across the state. And she didn’t mince words.
Speaking at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit, Berry delivered the kind of fiery takedown politicians dread. “Here in my home state of California, our governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill not once, but twice in two years,” she said pointedly. Then, with a sly jab that could double as a campaign warning, she added: “But hey, he won’t be governor forever.”
The audience gasped—and the internet lit up.
Berry wasn’t done. She took her critique national, warning that Newsom’s track record on women’s health should disqualify him from any presidential aspirations. “By neglecting women—half the population—and dismissing us during midlife, he really shouldn’t be our next president either,” she declared.
Her comments came after Newsom twice vetoed the Menopause Care Equity Act, a bipartisan bill that would have required insurance companies to cover menopause treatments and mandated medical training on the condition. Advocates say his veto slammed the brakes on crucial progress for women’s health—a topic that remains shockingly underfunded and under-researched.
“It’s infuriating that women in California are forced to keep waiting for proper healthcare when we were so close to making real progress,” Berry said.
To make sure her message hit Washington as hard as it did Sacramento, Berry teamed up with Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Dr. Pauline Maki, director of the Center for Health Awareness and Research on Menopause at the University of Illinois, to pen a blistering op-ed in TIME. The trio accused Newsom of a “failure” to stand up for women, framing his decision as a direct betrayal of the women he claims to support.
Berry’s crusade has resonated far beyond California. For millions of women navigating midlife health issues—often dismissed, misdiagnosed, or ignored—the actress’s words ring true. And as whispers of a Newsom 2028 campaign swirl, Halle Berry just sent a loud, clear message: ignore women’s health at your political peril.
