Taraji P. Henson has defined her prowess as an actor on several occasions with groundbreaking performances, specifically, in Empire and Hidden Figures. The actor possesses the ability to play almost anything following the assignment of the script.
Henson even revealed that Hollywood did not have much of a clue what to do with her while she could, like a musician, play anything. Maybe a wizard, a warlock even, or a witch with a pretty long nose. She could fly in a movie, wear a muscle body, a mask, or literally anything— she’s ready for that. But she was deprived, as she claimed, by the power invested in Harvey Weinstein.
Taraji P. Henson Faced Racial Discrimination in Hollywood
The occurrence of news of racial discrimination in Hollywood has gained attention over the years yet, the practice of it, as many celebrities claim, is still evident in the business. Taraji P. Henson didn’t shy away from revealing her awful experience of racial discrimination as she lost a role to a white actor in a film where she would appear with her Empire co-star Terrence Howard. The movie in focus here was Theodore Melfi’s 2014 comedy St. Vincent. Henson was supposed to play a pregnant s*x worker as Melfi specifically wrote the part for her, she revealed in her 2016 memoir, Around the Way Girl. But the producer is the God in a film production and as Henson revealed, Harvey Weinstein gave the role to Naomi Watts. When The Guardian asked if his decision was a matter of race, the Empire star said “Yeah,” without hesitation.
“Basically, I don’t think he saw my box-office appeal. What I heard – I didn’t sit down with the man – is that he wanted someone who was known internationally, so they got Naomi Watts,” Henson told the outlet.
Eventually, something worked in Henson’s favor as she went on to star in Melfi’s celebrated movie Hidden Figures. “That’s how God works. He had a bigger plan,” Henson was overjoyed to play the role of a celebrated mathematician. Now, Henson has a pretty remarkable resume and still showing her prowess in her performances.
Harvey Weinstein’s Spokesperson Reacted to Taraji P. Henson
Weinstein has been in and around controversies at that time and many have opened up about Weinstein when he grabbed headlines with the controversies attached. The former producer’s spokesperson, however, reacted to Henson’s claim. “Once again, simply because someone says something does not make it true,” the spokesperson revealed in a statement (via Vanity Fair). “And the continuous drumbeat of any Hollywood star who believes that he or she can gain greater reverence by invoking Weinstein’s name is just getting tiresome,” the spokesperson added denying Henson’s claim.
“The fact here is that Ms. Henson is a terrific actor and that is why she starred in five films connected to Weinstein. To make this about anything other than that is shameful. When Maya Angelou could not find anyone to back her film Down in the Delta, Weinstein backed it and produced it. From actors like Idris Elba, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington, and Taraji Henson, and films such as Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, and The Great Debaters, to name a few, Harvey Weinstein has a long record of finding the best talent for some of the most respected film projects.”
But after the downfall of Weinstein following his trial of sexual misconduct, Henson said, “I never wished anything bad on the man,” adding “I was just, like, ‘OK, he’ll see. That’s another person who’ll have to eat crow. How would you like yours? Fried? Toasted?’” Weinstein was found guilty in February 2020 and sentenced to 23 years in prison. In 2023, 16 additional years in prison were added to his name.
Source: The Guardian, Vanity Fair.
