Taraji P. Henson jokes that “the biggest pimps are in Hollywood”

During his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, September 3, Taraji P. Henson was asked about her memorable performance of “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” at the 78th Academy Awards. Henson, 53, along with Three 6 Mafia, performed the song from the Oscar-winning film Hustle & Flow. The live performance was both nominated for and won the Best Original Song award.

“It was crazy,” Henson recalled to Jimmy Fallon. “Here I was, singing about pimps and whores—it was so surreal. I had to look above the crowd, or I would have frozen up!”

Henson shared how the star-studded audience was raising their fists in the air, with even Helen Mirren joining in and chanting, “Yeah, it’s hard out here!” Henson laughed, saying, “I was just thinking, ‘What in the world are we doing?’ But it was incredible!”

“It was a party!” Fallon chimed in.

Henson then joked, “The biggest pimps are in Hollywood!”

“I didn’t say that!” Henson quickly added, looking around the room and even under her seat. She pointed to a microphone on Fallon’s desk, jokingly blaming it, “That’s what that thing said!”

Henson has previously been outspoken about pay disparity in Hollywood. In December 2023, she revealed that she almost turned down the role of Shug Avery in the recent musical adaptation of *The Color Purple* due to a dispute over wages.

“I almost had to walk away from *The Color Purple*—yes ma’am,” Henson shared during a live interview with SAG-AFTRA. “If I don’t take a stand, how can I make things easier for myself? For Fantasia [Barrino], for Danielle [Brooks], for Halle [Bailey], and for Felicia [Pearl Mpasi]? Why would I do this if it’s just for me?”

While Henson didn’t disclose specific details about the pay discrepancy, she did mention that she hadn’t received a “raise” since starring in the 2018 film *Proud Mary*.

“I’m really tired of the sameness in the stories of Black women, and it breaks my heart,” she admitted. “Whenever I achieve something significant, it feels like the industry views it as a fluke.”

Many actresses in Hollywood have been using their platforms to address the gender pay gap and advocate for equal compensation alongside their male counterparts. Michelle Williams notably brought attention to the issue in January 2018, when it was revealed that she was paid less than $1,000 for reshoots on a film while her male co-star received significantly more.

Henson emphasized the importance of vulnerability, stating, “My strength is in my vulnerability. I lean into that because that’s where true strength lies. To fix or change anything, you have to be vulnerable—and that takes courage. That’s what courage is: being vulnerable while trying to stay strong. People do that every day.”

She added that there is power in letting people see your emotions, noting, “It’s humanizing.”