Legendary actress Taraji P. Henson has been vocal about every area of her life, from demanding her proper dues as a working talent in the industry to falling back in love with herself after surviving a declining mental health. Her voice lends itself as a platform of advocacy for the many women fighting to speak the same words and demand what they deserve.
Another area she’s been vocal about, too, is her dating life. After two ended engagements, her heart remains open to love, though she’s not totally opposed to living a solitary lifestyle. Here’s a deeper look at Taraji’s dating timeline and where she stands today.
Her Engagement to Kelvin Hayden
On May 13th 2018, Henson announced that she was engaged to former NFL player Kelvin Hayden. Hashtagging that she was officially off the market, Henson seemed more than excited to step into her wife era, as she and Hayden were a few years into dating. They were first spotted holding hands in Miami in 2015, not going public with their relationship until December 2017.
She unfortunately disclosed the end of their engagement during an episode of The Breakfast Club on October 19th, 2020. While we aren’t exactly sure why they called it off, Henson has spoken to men finding it difficult to date a strong, successful Black woman with so many eyes on her.
“People are gonna be in your business. And that happened; they didn’t like that we were together. Somebody created a page and started trying to tear him down,” she shared, “I was like, ‘I told you I come with a lot, ’cause if you weren’t with me this wouldn’t be happening. You could be dating any woman and it wouldn’t be looked at under a microscope. That means now your life is public. Every move you make people are watching because of me.’”
She Was Previously Engaged
Before Hayden, however, Henson had already given love a shot. In 1994, Henson welcomed her son, Marcell, with her high school sweetheart, William LaMarr Johnson. He was unfortunately brutally murdered in 2003, though they were already separated at the time. Regardless, losing her baby daddy tragically was a big emotional hurdle to overcome. “I was so in love,” she said in an interview on The Wendy Williams Show. “He was my high school sweetheart and we were together for eight years. Marcell looks just like his father.”
Beyond that, she’s also admitted to long-term relationships with rapper Common and actor Hill Harper, both relationships lasting around two years. She and athlete Lamar Odom also shared intimate time together, which he regrettably spoke to in a recent interview. “Things ended with Taraji because of me being an immature punk,” he shared. “I didn’t know how to tell her that I was falling in love with another woman called Khloé Kardashian.”
Taraji is Happy Alone
The mother of a 29-year-old son and a booming hair care line, Henson has spoken to finding peace in the success of her life and not striving to change much about it. “I’m single and happy,” she stated. “I’m not longing for a relationship and at this point, I’ve decided I don’t want to be married. For what? I’m not having more kids, what’s the point? Let’s be life partners. Live and thrive. I want to keep my house, you keep yours… So if you want us to be together, I’m still going to keep my house but you can buy us another house, I’m not moving in with you, you’re not moving in with me and we’re going to enjoy life… without all that paperwork.”
She continued, “I’m OK, I’m happy, just as long as my loved ones are healthy. My heart is open, I’m not bitter or jaded. I’m open to love, but I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.”