Taraji P. Henson recently made headlines by firing her entire team for failing to capitalize on her success post-“Empire.” During a SAG-AFTRA Foundation talk, Henson revealed her frustration over her team’s inability to secure opportunities and endorsements after her popular role as Cookie Lyon.
Henson’s decisive action garnered support from 50 Cent, who praised her decision and expressed interest in collaborating. He commented on social media, stating, “They dropped the ball. Let’s get it, I’m ready to work.”
In her interview, Henson described her team’s focus on creating another Cookie-centric show, which ultimately fell through. Dissatisfied with their lack of planning for her career beyond “Empire,” she decided to part ways with them. This bold move highlights the challenges Black actresses face in Hollywood, including pay inequality, as echoed by actress Keke Palmer.
Despite plans for a “Cookie” spin-off with co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, the project was shelved. Henson emphasized the importance of having the right team to leverage her talents and maintain her career trajectory, stating that if a team doesn’t serve the talent, it’s time to find one that will.