Actress Taraji P. Henson is currently trending for her portrayal of Janiyah, a beleaguered single mother enduring one crisis after another in ‘Straw’.
Henson delivers an emotionally raw and powerful performance, capturing the crushing weight of marginalization and the resilience it demands.
Her performance is emotionally charged and empathetic, capturing Janiyah’s desperation. Through this character, Henson showcases not just the pain and fear of a woman in crisis, but also her deep humanity and unwavering resolve.
However, this reminded the viewers of the time Henson opened up about her harrowing tales of domestic violence.
Taraji P. Henson spoke openly about her alleged harrowing experience with domestic violence, offering a deeply personal account in her 2016 memoir, ‘Around the Way Girl’. She was 17 when she began dating a man she calls “Mark.”
The relationship, initially filled with love and promise, allegedly took a dark turn after the birth of their son. Henson recounted a terrifying incident when Mark’s anger turned physical.
She claimed that he punched her in the face during a heated argument, leaving her with blood streaming from her lips and mouth.
“The next thing I knew, Mark’s balled-up fist was coming straight for my face. I fell onto the bed crying and holding my mouth; blood seeped off my lips and across my teeth. Droplets splashed across my shoes … slowly creeping into the fibers of my suede boots.”
Taraji P. Henson
After she noticed the blood, Henson writes that she yelled at him. “This is over! Get your sh*t? And get out! With that separation, my forever man, my first love, was no more,” she said.
In that instant, she realized that the relationship had reached a point of no return, and she could no longer rationalize or excuse the violence. Henson referenced this moment in her Facebook Watch series ‘Peace of Mind with Taraji’, stating the turning point came when “blood was drawn.”
Determined to protect herself and her son, Henson made the heartbreaking decision to leave the relationship. In recent years, Henson has become an advocate for survivors of domestic violence.
Through “Peace of Mind with Taraji”, she has shared her story to help others recognize the signs of abuse and find the strength to leave.
She emphasized that leaving an abusive relationship is an act of courage and self-love, not defeat.
Taraji P. Henson on Exposure After Her Oscar Nomination
Taraji P. Henson never holds back when it comes to speaking her truth. And her recent appearance during the press run for Tyler Perry’s “Straw” proved exactly that.
While the Oscar-nominated actress has carved out an incredible career for herself over the years, the journey wasn’t always met with open doors.
She felt slighted even after a high-profile role in a $335 million blockbuster alongside Brad Pitt. Henson recently got candid about how Hollywood responded to her after her Oscar nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.
What should’ve been a moment that propelled her into A-list stardom quickly turned into a harsh reality check, but when everyone else went silent, one man, now a billionaire, stepped up in a way no one else did.
Taraji P. Henson recalled the whirlwind of the 2009 awards season. She shared how quickly the spotlight dimmed after her big night at the Oscars. She said, “The Oscar run is crazy.” She was getting calls and invitations to be at several places at once, and then suddenly, it was all gone.
Henson received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, which grossed over $335 million worldwide.
While an Oscar nomination is typically expected to usher in a wave of high-profile offers, Henson experienced quite the opposite. The silence that followed was deafening; there were no calls, no offers, and no opportunities for leading roles. That is, until Tyler Perry reached out.
“Like, it’s weird ’cause it’s like, you don’t, your senses, your nervous system is shocked because you’re so used to going and all of a sudden nothing…No phone calls. You know who called me? This man right here (Perry). For, a leading role. Not supporting, a leading role. And it was, ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’.”
Taraji P. Henson
What made the gesture even more significant was the way Perry empowered her beyond just the role. At the time, and unfortunately even today, Henson doesn’t get paid what she rightfully deserves.
Perry told her what to ask for, gave her a quote, which she surprisingly didn’t have until then. So, it’s not surprising that she has starred in yet another Tyler Perry movie, “Straw”, which was recently released on Netflix.
Perry’s generosity extends beyond just offering people roles in his movies. His commitment toward strengthening people for the future and sharing his invaluable wisdom is what makes him a special person in an otherwise hollow industry.
For that, Taraji P. Henson has vowed to always be loyal to him. However, she revealed that even members of her team were skeptical about the move.
“You know, people started asking me on my team, ‘Why you gonna do a Tyler Perry…’ I said, ‘Nobody called, no one called to offer me a number one position in the film. He did…And so, to this day, I’m going to, I don’t care how big I got, I don’t care how many awards I win. Whenever he calls, I’m there.”
Taraji P. Henson
Perry, who is now a billionaire with his sprawling studio compound in Atlanta, has long been known for giving Black actors opportunities when Hollywood looks the other way. Henson’s story is just one of many, but it’s a striking reminder of how even critical acclaim can’t always break down systemic barriers.
Taraji P. Henson’s raw honesty adds yet another layer to the ongoing conversation about equity in Hollywood. For every red carpet moment and awards speech, countless behind-the-scenes struggles don’t make the headlines.
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