In an Instagram post, 50 Cent expressed support for Taraji P. Henson’s choice to dismiss her entire team due to their failure to capitalize on the success of her “Empire” character, Loretha “Cookie” Lyon. Alongside a screenshot of a Deadline article detailing Henson’s remarks during a SAG-AFTRA Foundation interview, 50 Cent commended her decision and expressed eagerness to collaborate. He wrote, “They dropped the ball fvck em @tarajiphenson. I’m ready to work, let’s get it!”
In her SAG-AFTRA Foundation interview, Henson was asked about the best business decision she made in acting, to which she promptly responded, “Firing everybody after Cookie.” She elaborated on her decision, expressing frustration with the lack of post-“Empire” opportunities and the failure to secure deals and endorsements. Henson emphasized her insistence on the right approach for any potential Cookie-related projects. Disappointed with the outcome, she declared, “You’re all f***ing fired.”
After “Empire,” plans for a Cookie-led spinoff were announced by Fox, with Henson actively involved in its development alongside co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. However, the project did not materialize. In a previous statement, Henson addressed issues of pay inequality as a Black actress, a sentiment that received support from Keke Palmer.
