Why Halle Berry Finds Governor Gavin Newsom 'Disturbing' For Sleeping On Women's Health

Halle Berry is once again speaking against what she sees as Governor Gavin Newsom's ongoing neglect of women's health.

The "Perfect Stranger" actress has long been outspoken about issues affecting women, especially those navigating midlife hormonal changes. When the California governor vetoed a bill aimed at funding care and research for women in this stage of life, Berry didn't stay silent.

Although Newsom previously responded, suggesting the matter would be revisited, Berry is now speaking out on whether that promise was ever truly kept.

Two months after first criticizing Newsom for rejecting funding for menopausal care, the "X-Men" star has renewed her criticism, accusing the governor of failing to act on his assurances.

"It's disturbing when people say they're going to do things and then they don't," Berry recently told The Cut. "But he heard what I said. If he is going to run to be our next president, he can't sleep on women. Wake up, Gavin."

Hours after the interview was published, Newsom's office released a statement emphasizing that his latest budget proposal includes expanded access to care related to menopause and hormonal health.

"Ms. Berry's remarks are very unfortunate given the Governor's proposal put forward to support menopause care through the state budget, just as he said he would do in his veto message on AB 432," Newsom's spokesperson told PEOPLE on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Berry's latest criticism builds on remarks she first made last December at The New York Times Deal Book Summit, where she publicly challenged Governor Gavin Newsom over his rejection of funding for menopause-related care.

Per The Blast, Berry boldly pointed out that Newsom had vetoed the Menopause Care Equity bill for two years consecutively, which could have advanced research in women's wellness, and claimed his actions were due to his overlooking women's health. 

"The way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either," the former pageant queen slammed.

Following Berry's public remarks, Newsom's office acknowledged her advocacy and said they were open to working with her to address the issue.

As The Blast reported, the governor's team explained that the bill had been declined because it could have "unintentionally increased health care costs for millions of working women and families already under financial strain."

Newsom later addressed the controversy himself, telling reporters at an airport that funding for related care had been incorporated into California's proposed 2026 budget, something Berry reportedly had not been informed of.

Berry has not only been an advocate when it comes to government policy towards middle-aged women, but she has also started a journey empowering others on the same path with her website Respin Health.

As The Blast previously reported, the "Cat Woman" star announced the launch on her Instagram last year, detailing what the wellness brand is about.

According to Berry, Respin was created as a space for connection, care, and honest dialogue where the conversations are validating, not dismissive.

She described it as an intimate and supportive community where women can come together to learn, share experiences, and grow. Berry also revealed that the platform will offer curated tools, expert coaches, and community resources aimed at reshaping how menopause is discussed and experienced.

Alongside her advocacy, the 59-year-old actress has also been candid about the personal challenges she's faced.

She previously shared that after becoming intimate with her partner, Van Hunt, whom she calls the "man of my dreams," she experienced intense pain that led her to seek medical attention.

According to The Blast, Berry revealed she was initially misdiagnosed with a severe case of herpes.

Further testing later confirmed that neither she nor Hunt had the condition. The pain was eventually linked to perimenopause. 

Berry admitted that assumptions about her own health, combined with her doctor's lack of awareness, fueled her mission to educate, advocate, and push for better care for women going through similar transitions.