Taraji P. Henson Breaks Silence: Why She Won’t Forgive Common

Taraji P. Henson is known for keeping her private life out of the spotlight, but recently, she’s been more candid—especially when it comes to her past relationship with rapper and actor Common.

Their romance, which began in the mid-2000s, seemed promising, but Taraji is now opening up about why she can’t forgive him and how his pattern with women has left a mark not just on her, but also on her son.

Common has a reputation for dating high-profile, successful Black women in Hollywood—Serena Williams, Tiffany Haddish, Erykah Badu, Angela Rye, Jennifer Hudson, and of course, Taraji herself.

On the surface, he’s charming, well-spoken, and attractive, but a growing number of his exes have hinted that he’s not the gentleman the public perceives him to be. Many say he leads women to believe in a future together, only to pull away once things start getting serious.

Taraji and Common began dating around 2005, at a time when her star was rising with roles in films like “Baby Boy” and “Hustle & Flow.” Their relationship was mostly kept private, but fans caught glimpses of their chemistry—especially when Taraji appeared in Common’s “Testify” music video. By all accounts, things were getting serious:

Taraji introduced Common to her son, Marcel, who was just 11 at the time. The two bonded, and for Taraji, it seemed like she had finally found a real partner.

Common himself spoke highly of Taraji, saying she was his mother’s favorite among all his girlfriends. For a while, everything seemed perfect. Both were single parents, both were ambitious entertainers, and they appeared to want the same things in life.

But as the relationship approached its second year, Common began to distance himself. He made Taraji feel like she was at fault, only to later admit that he just wasn’t ready for a long-term commitment.

Taraji has since revealed that the breakup hit her and her son hard. Marcel was especially affected, feeling the loss of someone he had come to admire and trust. Taraji has gone on record saying that Common was her last serious relationship and that she hasn’t been able to move on in the same way since, largely because of the impact on her son.

This pattern isn’t unique to Taraji. Other women who have dated Common have echoed similar experiences: he’s enthusiastic and attentive in the beginning, but once the “honeymoon phase” ends and real relationship challenges begin, he checks out.

Even media personalities like Wendy Williams have warned women not to fall too hard for him, labeling him as someone who can’t commit.

Taraji’s story is a reminder that even the most private celebrities can be deeply affected by heartbreak, especially when children are involved. She’s made it clear that, for her, forgiveness isn’t on the table—not just because of her own pain, but because of the hurt her son endured.

Meanwhile, Common continues to move through high-profile relationships, but his reputation as a serial dater is starting to overshadow his image as the ultimate gentleman.

What do you think about Common’s dating history? Let us know in the comments.

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