**Taraji P. Henson and Nia Long’s Explosive Feud on the Set of Empire**

Taraji P. Henson has always been known for her powerhouse talent and refusal to tolerate disrespect, especially when she’s the star of the show.

But few fans know just how tense things got behind the scenes when Nia Long joined the cast of *Empire* for a recurring role. What unfolded was a dramatic clash that would become one of Hollywood’s most infamous on-set feuds.

At the height of *Empire’s* popularity, Taraji had solidified herself as the heart of the show with her iconic portrayal of Cookie Lyon. Nia Long, a respected actress with over 30 years in the industry, joined the cast hoping for a career boost.

However, rumors swirled that Nia often blamed other Black actresses for her own struggles in Hollywood and had made comments about stars like Halle Berry and Queen Latifah not doing enough to support others.

From the moment Nia arrived on set, her attitude reportedly raised eyebrows. She acted as if she was the biggest star in the room, giving off an air of superiority.

The established cast and crew, who viewed Taraji as their leader, were not impressed. Things escalated when Nia began showing up late to set, causing production delays so severe that stand-ins were used for rehearsals. When she finally arrived, she wasn’t apologetic—instead, she acted as if everyone should be grateful for her presence.

The situation worsened when the hair and makeup team complained about Nia’s demanding and rude behavior, which led to a formal complaint—the only one ever filed against a guest star on *Empire*.

Tensions reached a boiling point when a cast member called out Nia for her tardiness, prompting her to lose her temper. Taraji, rather than backing down, made a sarcastic remark that only fueled the fire. From that moment, the relationship between the two actresses deteriorated further.

Nia reportedly went out of her way to make things uncomfortable for Taraji, refusing to film scenes with her unless absolutely necessary. Producers had to use camera tricks to make it seem like the two were in the same room when they weren’t.

Nia even began to play the victim, complaining to producers about being treated unfairly, despite her own difficult behavior.

When her time on *Empire* ended, Nia was furious about the lack of a sendoff, even threatening to sue the production. She claimed the absence of a farewell violated her contract, though there was no such clause.

As stories of her on-set behavior leaked to the press, Nia tried to do damage control, portraying herself as a misunderstood strong woman. But no one from *Empire*’s cast or crew came to her defense, and fans weren’t buying her version of events.

Meanwhile, Taraji remained professional and focused, her reputation intact. Nia’s attempts to praise Taraji in later interviews were seen as damage control, and Taraji never responded, letting her silence speak volumes.

In the end, the feud became a lesson in how professionalism and talent ultimately win out—and as Taraji thrived, Hollywood seemed to move on without Nia Long.