Academy Award winner Halle Berry drew audible gasps from the audience at the New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday as she sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom over his handling of menopause care legislation.
“At this stage in my life, I have zero f*cks left to give,” the 59-year-old actor said from the stage, setting the tone for a blunt, passionate discussion about women’s health and how she believes it’s being sidelined.
Berry focused her remarks on the push to expand healthcare coverage for menopause-related care. She highlighted a bill she has supported that would require certain menopause services to be covered by health plans and increase training for medical professionals — legislation that has now been vetoed in California twice.
“Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one, but two years in a row,” Berry told the crowd. “But that’s OK, because he’s not going to be governor forever, and the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.”
Her direct mention of Newsom — who also appeared at the same summit — reportedly prompted shocked reactions from attendees.
The bill at the center of the dispute, AB 432, was introduced by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and was vetoed for the second time in October.
Responding to Berry’s criticism, Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said the governor rejected the measure over concerns that it would increase healthcare costs.
“He vetoed the bill because, as written, it would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women already stretched thin — something he’s determined to avoid,” Gardon said, adding that Newsom remains “confident” they can find a way to get a version of the bill passed this year. Newsom’s current term is set to end in 2026.
Berry framed the fight over the bill as part of a broader pattern of how society treats women in midlife.
“In 2025, there is a lot to still be talked about and discovered and uncovered, especially if you are a woman who is navigating midlife and thoughtfully considering your longevity, because in 2025, I, Halle Berry, and women of my age are simply devalued in this country,” she said. “Our culture thinks that, at 59 years old, I am past my prime, and that women my age start to become invisible in Hollywood, in the workplace, on social media.”
