Taraji P. Henson Shakes Things Up: Major Team Overhaul After ‘Empire’ Success Plateau.
Taraji P. Henson shared that her most impactful business decision came after her role as Cookie Lyon on ‘Empire,’ when she decided to let go of her entire team.
“I had to let everyone go,” Henson, 53, revealed in a recent interview with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. “I was asking, ‘Where’s my deal? Where’s my commercial? Cookie was a fashion icon. Where’s my endorsement deal? What’s the plan for my career after this?’ That’s why you haven’t seen me much lately because there were no plans in place.
Henson portrayed Cookie, one of the cofounders of Empire Entertainment, on the popular Fox series from 2015 to 2020. Her character swiftly gained a dedicated fan following thanks to her impeccable fashion sense and commanding personality.
According to Henson, her team’s primary focus after the series concluded was to create “another show centered around Cookie.” She expressed her willingness to participate but emphasized the importance of doing it correctly to honor the character’s beloved status among fans. However, when they failed to meet her expectations, she made the decision to part ways with her team, feeling that they had no other viable options.
After concluding her portrayal of Cookie, Henson took on the role of The Bride in “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” a project that debuted more than a year following the April 2020 series finale of ‘Empire.’
She went on to mention that it took her “several years” to make the decision to part ways with her team because she had experienced what she described as a form of Stockholm syndrome. Henson added, “Always remember, you are the prize. You are the talent, and you are their source of income. Never forget that. They are working for you, and if they aren’t, someone else will.”
Henson has since taken on roles in various projects, including “Annie Live!”, “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” “Abbott Elementary,” “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” and most recently, “The Color Purple.” During her discussion with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, she disclosed that she almost had to consider leaving her role as Shug Avery in the new film due to a wage disparity issue.
“I’ve reached a point where I often contemplate just retiring on a tranquil island because of the ongoing struggles faced as a Black woman,” she elaborated. “We handle these challenges with tremendous grace but are often compensated at a fraction of our true value, which becomes increasingly difficult. It’s disheartening when people say, ‘You’re always working!’ Well, it’s a necessity because the numbers simply don’t add up.”
Henson continued, explaining that she had to maintain a heavy workload to provide for both her family and her team. “This line of work comes with substantial expenses,” she revealed. “I’m not doing this solo; it’s a collaborative effort, and my team deserves fair compensation for their contributions, just as anyone else should.”
In a recent interview with Gayle King on SiriusXM, she echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I’m exhausted from putting in so much effort, delivering excellence in my work, and receiving only a fraction of what I deserve. It’s disheartening to hear my fellow sisters express the same frustrations repeatedly.”
