\n<\/p>\n
\n\tTaraji P. Henson has long been an equal pay advocate, particularly speaking out about uplifting fellow Black actresses. In a recent interview, she further highlighted \u201cthe difference between women and men in Hollywood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tDuring a recent conversation on Making Space with Hoda Kotb<\/em>, the Oscar nominee was asked about her efforts to call attention to film career disparities, which prompted her to recall a specific instance following the 2001 release of late director John Singleton\u2018s young adult hood drama film Baby Boy<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt was huge for me back then. I was a female lead, I was new to Hollywood, and I just remember everybody coming to me going, \u2018Oh my God, you\u2019re gonna blow up. Do you understand what John Singleton does to people\u2019s careers? Look at this person and this person.\u2019 But I don\u2019t know, discernment told me something different. And I just knew it wasn\u2019t gonna be that way,\u201d she began.<\/p>\n \n\tThe Empire<\/em> alumna continued, \u201cI hadn\u2019t even really fully figured out the politics of Hollywood yet. But I just know that something sat on my heart, and was like, \u2018I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s gonna be my story, I don\u2019t know that that\u2019s gonna happen like that overnight for me.\u2019 And so, sure enough \u2014 but I knew deep down it would for Tyrese.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHenson clarified that she doesn\u2019t harbor any ill will, but was rather noting the difference in subsequent career trajectory. \u201cAnd it\u2019s no hate or anything \u2014 I just knew \u2026 But it still didn\u2019t hit me yet, because I was still working. As long as I had a job, I was cool.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe four-time Emmy-nominated actress singled out franchise projects in particular: \u201cAfter\u00a0Baby Boy<\/em>, Tyrese booked two franchise films, huge!\u00a0Transformers<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Fast and Furious<\/em>. I still have not booked my franchise film. Been in the game almost 30 years. No franchise film.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tShe concluded, \u201cI\u2019m not gonna cry about it. I mean, it just, I know what it is now. Now I\u2019m on the other side of the table now. You can\u2019t hurt my feelings anymore because now I know there\u2019s politics involved. It still sucks, but I\u2019m not setting myself up to hurt my own feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n