Taraji P. Henson Takes Control: Fires Team Amid Career Setback, Speaks Out Against Hollywood Pay Disparities

Taraji P. Henson, renowned for her role as Cookie Lyon in “Empire,” revealed a bold move in a recent SAG-AFTRA conversation, moderated by Variety’s Angelique Jackson. The actress disclosed that she took charge of her career by firing her team after facing a roadblock post-“Empire,” despite the show’s global success. Henson’s decision came in the wake of a failed spinoff project centered around her iconic character.

In the interview, Henson expressed frustration with her team’s focus solely on another Cookie-centric show and her insistence that it be executed correctly. When the spinoff plans fell through, and her team had no alternative strategy, she made the decisive move to part ways with them, emphasizing the importance of setting up post-“Empire” opportunities.

Henson, who recently earned acclaim for her supporting role in “The Color Purple,” also opened up about the ongoing pay disparity issues in Hollywood. She shared her experiences of being underpaid despite her success on “Empire” and an Oscar nomination. The actress tearfully discussed the challenges faced by women in the industry and her commitment to challenging the status quo.

The seasoned actress called out the systemic issues, including the common excuse that Black actors and stories “don’t translate overseas.” Henson expressed frustration over hearing the same excuses throughout her two-decade career and asserted her determination to fight for fair compensation and opportunities for herself and those coming up in the industry.

Watch Taraji P. Henson’s candid SAG-AFTRA interview addressing her career decisions and Hollywood challenges in the video below.