Taraji P. Henson Says Your Circle Could Be Sabotaging Your Relationship
If you've ever had trouble figuring out what your male boss really thinks of you after a meeting or if the guy you're on date 3 with is really telling the truth, What Men Want star Taraji P. Henson seeks to give you a little insight.
In this highly anticipated film, the recent Hollywood Walk-of-Fame Star recipient serves as our undercover woman to give us the inside scoop to the thoughts of men. In the film, Taraji plays the lead role of Ali Davis, the spunky yet successful sports agent who aspires to become the first Black female partner at her firm. The only problem? Her approach with men is wildly underwhelming. But with just a few sips of some arguably suspect tea, Ali now has a secret weapon in her possession: the ability to hear men's thoughts.
Co-Produced by Hollywood power-producer Will Packer, this movie is just one glimpse into what it's like to navigate a male-centric industry as a woman in 2019. And as hard as it may be for women to dominate their professional relationships, successfully cultivating their personal ones provide challenges of their own. xoNecole got to chat exclusively with the film's star Taraji P. Henson, where she let us in on a few of her personal secret weapons that helped her find success in both her love life and professional life.
"You have to have the right people around you," Taraji explained. "I have a group of friends around me that don't allow me to leave the room. You know, if me and my fiancé find ourselves with an issue, they grab hands and lock arms. They're like 'you can't leave the circle, you have to stay and figure it out.' You have to stay and figure it out because that's what 'lifetime' [commitment] is about. I think a lot of times it's who you're getting your advice from which would help you to sabotage your relationship."
And just as it's important to have a solid team of friends around you, it's equally as important to have a collaborative spirit. Especially when it comes to the workforce. Taraji let us know that being a team player is what made it easy for her to have her voice and opinions heard. "Even though the director and producers were men, they're fair in their thinking," she says. "Therefore I have a team and we work together. You can't ever be afraid to speak your mind. Will [Packer, producer] knows that if I speak out about something, it means I'm passionate about it. I'm not a problem-maker but if there's an issue that I feel passionately about, I'm going to speak on it."
She adds, "You have to learn to pick your battles, you can't fight every fight. You want to win the war. So you have to be very conscious about the battles you choose."
What Men Want is in theaters everywhere so be sure get your tickets NOW!
Featured image by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images.
Writer. Empath. Escapist. Young, gifted, and Black. Shanelle Genai is a proud Southern girl in a serious relationship with celebrity interviews, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and long walks down Sephora aisles. Keep up with her on IG @shanellegenai.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Tyler James Williams Explains Why His And Quinta Brunson 'Abbott Elementary' Characters Should Remain Friends
While Abbott Elementary fans are hoping that Janine and Gregory end up together, the show’s star has another take. Tyler James Williams plays Gregory on the Emmy award-winning sitcom, and he recently stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show to share his point of view on his storyline with Janine, which Quinta Brunson plays.
“I hate to say it. I know that everybody’s always mad at me for this. I don’t necessarily want to see them together,” he revealed. “It’s partially an actor’s choice, but also somebody who, like, I read a lot of scripts all the time. I watch a lot of TV, a lot of film. I don’t think that we see displays of platonic love between two people often. I think it’s really easy to go right to they have feelings for each other, therefore they should be together. I like this dynamic of exploring withholding that and just actively loving each other where they are. That I like to see more.”
If you recall, they were co-workers who became friends but were secretly crushing on each other. They’ve had many awkward run-ins during and after school, like the unforgettable club scene where they were dancing nervously with each other in season one, and in season two, they finally kiss. However, it only made things even more awkward, and they decided to just be friends. Tyler further explained why he thinks it’s important to showcase that type of relationship on screen.
“I think it’s time for that. I think TV allows people to see things that could be their lives for the first time, and I think seeing a healthy friendship that is deeply caring about one another in a work atmosphere needs to be shown more than the relationship,” he concluded.
Abbott Elementary comes on every Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images