Taraji P. Henson joked that “the biggest pimps are in Hollywood” while looking back at her 2006 Oscars performance.
Taraji P. Henson Biography
| Name | Taraji P. Henson |
| Age | 53 years |
| Networth | $12 million |
| Country | American |
On the September 3 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Henson talked about her live performance of “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” at the 78th Academy Awards. She and Three 6 Mafia performed the song from the movie Hustle & Flow, which was nominated for and won Best Original Song.
Henson told Jimmy Fallon, “That was wild. I was singing about pimps and hoes, which felt really surreal. I had to look above the crowd to keep going strong, or I might have frozen up.”
Henson recalled seeing the A-list crowd with their fists in the air and everyone, including Helen Mirren, cheering as if saying, “It’s tough out here!” She thought it was really incredible and unexpected.
“It was a blast!” Fallon said.
Then the Oscar nominee joked, “The biggest players are in Hollywood!”
Henson quickly said, “I didn’t say that!” while looking around and under her seat. Pointing to a prop microphone on Fallon’s desk, she joked, “That’s what that thing said!”
Taraji P. Henson has talked openly about pay issues in Hollywood before. In December 2023, she almost passed up her role as Shug Avery in the new version of The Color Purple because of a pay disagreement.
Henson said in a live interview for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, “I almost left The Color Purple.” “I felt that if I didn’t speak up, I wouldn’t be helping others like Fantasia, Danielle, Halle, and Phylicia. I wanted to make things better for everyone, not just for myself.”
Taraji P. Henson didn’t go into details about the pay issue but mentioned that she hadn’t seen a raise since her 2018 film Proud Mary.
She said, “I’m really tired of hearing the same story from Black women. It breaks my heart. It feels like whenever we achieve something amazing, the industry just sees it as a lucky accident.”
Talking to Us Weekly at the TIME 100 Gala in April, Henson said she’s not embarrassed to share her struggles with the public.
The actress explained that showing your true feelings is a sign of strength. To make changes, you need to be open and brave, and letting people see you cry is just being human.
FAQS
As of now, Taraji P. Henson is not married. She was engaged to Kelvin Hayden before, but they broke off their engagement in 2020.
Taraji P. Henson has a son named Marcell Johnson, whom she shares with her former fiancé, William Johnson.
Yes, Taraji P. Henson is a millionaire. Her successful career in acting, including notable roles in films and television, has earned her significant wealth.
Taraji P. Henson is famous for her roles in films such as “Hidden Figures” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” as well as her acclaimed role as Cookie Lyon on the TV series “Empire.”
