Terrence Howard & Nia Long Expose Taraji P. Henson’s Behind-the-Scenes Behavior

In a surprising twist, Terrence Howard and Nia Long have come together to call out Taraji P. Henson for her alleged behind-the-scenes conduct during their time on the hit series “Empire.”

While many fans believed that Nia and Terrence were the source of drama with Taraji, it’s now being revealed that Taraji herself may have instigated the conflict.

Terrence Howard & Nia Long CALL OUT Taraji On What She Did Behind Scenes

The controversy dates back to season 3 of “Empire,” when Nia Long joined the cast for a brief six-episode arc. Despite her short stint, Taraji reportedly felt threatened by Nia’s presence and worried she might overshadow her on the show.

According to sources, Taraji rallied some crew members to start a smear campaign against Nia, spreading rumors that she was consistently late to set and difficult to work with.

One incident that fueled the drama involved Nia arriving late to set, prompting someone to make an inappropriate joke about “black people time.”

Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard Have Empire Reunion With Fight Night - YouTube

Nia was understandably upset, and Taraji escalated the situation by making a dismissive joke about Nia’s behavior being due to her period—a comment Nia found offensive and gaslighting. This led to further complaints about Nia from the hair and makeup team, who accused her of being hard to please.

When Nia’s final day on set arrived, she was denied the customary send-off and applause typically given to departing cast members. This apparent snub left Nia feeling disrespected, and she allegedly considered legal action since her contract guaranteed a proper farewell.

Throughout this ordeal, Terrence Howard stepped in to support Nia, which led to his own falling out with Taraji. She reportedly felt betrayed by Terrence, especially since she had advocated for him to land his role as Lucious Lyon on “Empire.”

Despite rumors of a feud, Taraji tried to downplay the tension publicly. She posted a now-deleted video of her and Terrence joking around, attempting to dispel the rumors.

Photo : Terrence Howard et Taraji P. Henson à la soirée "Empire" à Los Angeles, le 20 mai 2016. - Purepeople

In interviews, she insisted there was no real conflict, claiming she had always supported Terrence and didn’t understand where the gossip came from.

However, insiders say the rift was real, with Nia going so far as to avoid future projects that would force her to work with Taraji again. Meanwhile, Terrence and Taraji eventually reunited for another project, “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” and Terrence described the experience as positive, suggesting some reconciliation.

The story has sparked debate among fans, with some defending Nia and Terrence for standing up to mistreatment, while others sympathize with Taraji, especially as she recently spoke out about pay inequality in Hollywood.

Report: Nia Long Was A Nightmare To Deal With On 'Empire' Set And Taraji Wasn't Having It - Foxy 107.1-104.3

Some viewers pointed out that being labeled “difficult” often just means having boundaries that others don’t respect.

Ultimately, the drama between these stars highlights the pressures and politics of working in Hollywood. While Taraji’s public image as a trailblazer remains strong, these revelations suggest that behind the scenes, relationships can be far more complicated. As the story continues to unfold, fans are left to decide whose side they’re on—and what really happened on the set of “Empire.”