Henson didn’t take into consideration that you could mute musicians on Spotify, not directors.
Taraji P. Henson attempted to have a “woke” moment on social media which undoubtedly backfired in her face. The actress faced backlash after she tried to compare the public’s treatment of R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein, but was quickly reminded that the point went over her head completely.
Somebody tap Taraji on the shoulder and tell her now isn't the time to throw her career in the drain for defending a trash can named R. Kelly.
Weinstein didn't need to be muted because he is currently facing charges faster than R. Kelly is right now!
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) January 22, 2019
Taraji P. Henson shared several since-deleted posts on her Instagram Story comparing the #MuteRKelly hashtag to the #MuteHarveyWeinstein hashtag. Many quickly reminded Henson that R. Kelly is a musician, thus making it feasible to mute him while Weinstein is a film executive who sits behind the scenes. However, many also revealed that Weinstein is actually facing charges for his alleged sex crimes while Kellz only has a hashtag so far.
…. @TherealTaraji sis… don’t do that… MUTE R. Kelly is about not supporting his MUSIC. There would be no MUTE Harvey Weinstein hashtag considering he’s not a musical artist….. why do yall wanna defend R. Kelly by any means necessary?
— Destiny (@DanceBotDes) January 22, 2019
@TherealTaraji you can’t be serious with that IG story. Harvey Weinstein has pending charges on him, something R Kelly doesn’t have. All R Kelly got was a hashtag.
— . (@bmrn27) January 22, 2019
First of all, @TherealTaraji the point of muting someone is to not hear their music. You cancel other people.
Second, I pray this wasn’t you trying to cape for R Kelly.
You and Erykah Badu really don’t want us to see What Men Want…
— Ian J (@_IanJ) January 22, 2019
Erykah Badu reduced R.Kelly's crimes to "poor choices". Taraji P. Henson made a false equivalency between him and Harvey Weinstein. The aunties are really exposing their internalized misogynoir, and I can't deal. Black girls deserve better.
— DeAsia Paige (@deasia_paige) January 22, 2019
Henson took to Twitter shortly after facing backlash for her post. “LET ME BE CLEAR R. KELLY IS GUILTY AND WRONG AND SHOULD BE MUTED PERIOD!!!!,” she wrote.
LET ME BE CLEAR R. KELLY IS GUILTY AND WRONG AND SHOULD BE MUTED PERIOD!!!!! 💋💋💋
— Taraji P. Henson (@TherealTaraji) January 22, 2019
Henson undoubtedly received an overwhelming amount of backlash for the post, but there were a few others who were a bit more empathetic to the point she was trying to make. One person pointed out that Henson is an actress in the film industry and the impact of Weinstein’s actions have more of an impact on her than R. Kelly.
What’s the big deal w/ @TherealTaraji’s IG story?? Why are people assuming she’s implying R Kelly is being treated unfairly when she really could just be highlighting the indifference towards 1 & not the other…
— 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 (@AmbitiousPaul) January 22, 2019
#MuteWeinstein means to boycott any movie he or his company is involved in, right?
I'm sure there's something we can do to sabatoge his career.
I mean… @TherealTaraji IS an actress and this is kinda within her lane, right?
I think we need to be more charitable to her.
— 400 Years a Slave (@D_Jay_Bee) January 22, 2019
Henson’s comments faced similar backlash to those of Erykah Badu who appeared to have defended Kellz at a concert. Badu later took to Twitter to clarify her tweets, which also faced public scrutiny. “I love you. Unconditionally. That doesn’t mean I support your poor choices. I want healing for you and anyone you have hurt as a result of you being hurt,” she wrote.
