Actress Taraji P. Henson is currently trending for her portrayal of Janiyah, a beleaguered single mother enduring one crisis after another in Straw. Henson delivers an emotionally raw and powerful performance, capturing the crushing weight of marginalization and the resilience it demands.
Henson’s performance is emotionally charged and empathetic, capturing Janiyah’s desperation. Through this character, Henson showcases not just the pain and fear of a woman in crisis, but also her deep humanity and unwavering resolve. However, this reminded the viewers of the time Henson opened up about her harrowing tales of domestic violence.
Taraji P. Henson claimed to be a victim of domestic violence
Taraji P. Henson has spoken openly about her alleged harrowing experience with domestic violence, offering a deeply personal account in her 2016 memoir, Around the Way Girl. She was just 17 when she began dating a man she calls “Mark.”
The relationship, initially filled with love and promise, allegedly took a dark turn after the birth of their son. Henson recounted a terrifying incident when Mark’s anger turned physical.
She claimed that he punched her in the face during a heated argument, leaving her with blood streaming from her lips and mouth. Describing the same, she wrote (via People):
The next thing I knew, Mark’s balled-up fist was coming straight for my face. I fell onto the bed crying and holding my mouth; blood seeped off my lips and across my teeth. Droplets splashed across my shoes … slowly creeping into the fibers of my suede boots.
After she noticed the blood, Henson writes that she yelled at him:
This is over! Get your sh*t? and get out! With that separation, my forever man, my first love, was no more.
In that instant, she realized that the relationship had reached a point of no return, and she could no longer rationalize or excuse the violence. Henson references this moment in her Facebook Watch series Peace of Mind with Taraji, stating the turning point came when “blood was drawn.”
Determined to protect herself and her son, Henson made the heartbreaking decision to leave the relationship. In recent years, Henson has become an advocate for survivors of domestic violence. Through Peace of Mind with Taraji, she has shared her story to help others recognize the signs of abuse and find the strength to leave.
She emphasizes that leaving an abusive relationship is an act of courage and self-love, not defeat.
Rihanna and Cassie Ventura faced the same tragic issues as Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson wasn’t the only celebrity to face domestic violence. Singers Rihanna and Cassie Ventura shared her similar fate. In February 2009, just before the Grammy Awards, Rihanna was physically assaulted by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown.
The attack left her with visible injuries—bruising, swelling, and a split lip—and was captured in leaked police photographs (via CBS News). Brown later pleaded guilty to felony assault and criminal threats.
The Fenty Beauty owner, however, emerged stronger; her resilience helped break the silence around intimate partner violence and eventually saw her become an outspoken advocate for survivors.
On the other hand, singer Cassie Ventura has come forward with detailed allegations of a long history of abuse by Sean “Diddy” Combs, spanning from about 2007 to 2018.
She filed a civil lawsuit in late 2023 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, accusing him of r*pe, s*x trafficking, repeated physical violence, emotional manipulation, drug coercion, and forced s*xual encounters with other individuals for his gratification.
In May 2024, a 2016 surveillance video surfaced via CNN, showing Combs physically assaulting Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway—grabbing, punching, dragging, and kicking her. The footage sparked outrage and prompted Combs to issue a public apology.
Both RiRi and Ventura opened up about their respective incidents in different interviews. Their openness has turned their personal ordeal into a powerful platform, inspiring survivors and shining a light on the often-hidden trauma of concealed relationships.
Straw is now streaming on Netflix (USA).
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