I keep hearing great things about the new Fox show, Empire. It’s Lee Daniels’ foray into TV (Daniels is the writer/creator/producer) and the show has gotten rave reviews, with some critics even saying it’s the best new show of the year. While I love any opportunity to support Empire lead Taraji P. Henson (I LOVE HER), I just can’t with the male lead, Terrence Howard. I’m sorry, you guys, but I’m pretty sure he’s a violent, misogynistic douchebag. His interviews are douchey (remember the baby wipes?) and he’s been accused of assaulting women SIX TIMES. Six different women. Six times. That we know of. It’s like the Bill Cosby thing – how many women does it take to make you believe that this guy is no good? Howard’s on his fourth wife too, which should tell you something (more than one wife/girlfriend has accused him of assault too, by the way).
At this point, I think the entertainment press is still in the process of learning from their mistakes in ignoring all of the Bill Cosby rumors. Refreshingly, this means that, while promoting Empire, Howard has been asked about his history of beating on women. He got some questions about his past assaults this weekend, during the Television Critics Association press tour for the Fox shows.
Terrence Howard addressed his history of legal issues involving allegations of assault against several women and whether Fox considered them before casting him on “Empire.”
“A lot of things that I got involved with in younger days, in the earlier days was the product of my environment,” he responded when TheWrap asked him to address the topic during Saturday’s Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena.
He continued, “[It was] the product of not knowing how to deal with frustration, the product of not knowing who Terrence Howard is. Now I’m married with a new wife, with a brand new baby. I’ve grown so much from anything that’s happened in the past.”
Howard’s record of alleged physical assaults against women dates back to 2000 when he was accused of grabbing a flight attendant’s wrist and pushing her during a flight. The latest allegation occurred in 2013 when Howard’s ex-wife alleged that he “knocked her down” and kicked her in the head. The actor went on to address whether those things were factor as he was being cast on “Empire.”
“This present moment, to have a show that’s being that’s being held as a beautiful breakthrough piece, having a wonderful opportunity to have this cast, I don’t think they took any of that stuff into consideration,” he said. “I think they looked at the talent and the power of right now and this moment and how people have grown and where they’re going to, and I embrace that, and I’m so thankful to them for doing that.”
Show co-creator Lee Daniels then interjected, “And we are, Terrence.”
Howard was also asked by a second reporter about the concern among TV critics that the entertainment business is giving a pass to men with histories of assault against women, including Bill Cosby and Woody Allen.
“The only person that can really make the judgment, the final judgment is the judge in the court or God at the end of the day,” Howard responded. “You leave it to them. So once you look at what the judges have said, there’s been no criminal charges ever filed against that person or anything like that. So you have to go by what the judge is saying. If it’s something valid, it’s something valid. If it’s not, it’s not, but you’ve got to give people a chance to grow from anything that happens… We’ve got to give people a chance to show who they are.”
Earlier in the day, Fox Television Group co-chairmen and CEO Dana Walden was asked if the company had known about Howard’s history and if that was taken into account while casting “Empire.”
“Our experience with Terrence has been excellent,” Walden responded. “We cast Terrence, because our executive producers, Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, and Brian Grazer, felt that he was the best actor for that particular role. Our experience with him at that point was being fans of the films he’s done in the past and it seemed like a little bit of a no brainer. So with Terrence, we really didn’t become aware of any of the situation you’re talking about until December. It wasn’t part of the conversation when we cast him.”
Howard talks as if all of the assault accusations are from a decade ago. It was just 2013 when his then-estranged wife accused him of punching her in the face repeatedly after she told him their marriage wasn’t working out. He was also accused of assault in 2012, 2011, 2005, 2001 and 2000. He even admitted some of the assaults when questioned by the police, and he has taken plea deals in some of these situations, and in others, the charges were dropped or “settled in civil court.” So… what do you think? Do you think Ol’ Baby Wipes is a changed man and he’s on the straight and narrow these days? Or should the producers have gone with their first instinct and hired Wesley Snipes?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Wheres Cuba Gooding Jr? Better actor, less baggage.
Gooding is going to be on EMPIRE this season.
EVERYONE and Their Mamas are gonna be in Empire this season.. and I’m Here for it
Im also here for the Fact he’s getting called out in Press about this awful shit, maybe they’ll stop trotting him out or his Pimp Named Character dies soon cause as Far as I’m Concerned Is ALL about Cookie In This show!
Cuba is on a CBC (CBC is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) miniseries called The Book of Negores.
I think it is also on BET.
I think I read a BI somewhere that Cuba is dealing with drug issues or something. If nothing else I remember reading plenty of times that he too is a d-bag.
And I’m with you Kaiser. I’m torn between my love for Taraji and my utter disdain for Terrence.
According to Entertainment Weekly and Taraji herself, she would not do the role without Terrance.
No way. Cuba is not right for this role. Morris Chestnut, Wood Harris, Mekhi Phifer…But you’re right he does have less baggage as far as we know.
Terrence is so talented, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him arrested for murder some day in one of his out-of-control domestic fights with his ex that he keeps going back to. They seem obsessed with each other in a bad way. He’s got some crazy in his eyes sometimes when his anger fires in an interview. I still love him in Hustle & Flow. What a great performance.
I hate to say that I agree. His bad behavior got him kicked out of the Iron Man Series (not necessarily assault but certainly him temper and arrogance). Empire is really good and I LOVE Tarij. I’m so happy to see her on a new show. I am pretty torn about Terrence. I do like him as an actor but I also think he is a terrible person. His character is dying so it will be interesting to see how long he is around. Wesley Snipes would have been wonderful!
What is with these guys and their need for excessive violence and control? Sickening …
UGH! “The only person that can make that judgement” Is a judge in a court of law first Terrence! He ought to know that by now.
I can tell you, Empire is a great and riveting show. I adore Taraji P. Henson. As for, ugh, Terrence Howard, he’s definitely correctly casted as a misogynistic douchebag.
Snipes is believed to be the guy that beat Halle Berry so badly that he made her partially deaf in one ear(it wasn’t her ex the singer Christopher Williams), so no on him. They should have gone with Blair Underwood or Morris Chestnut.
It’s a good thing that they brought up his sh*tty record and it is also the reason why I can’t watch the show, but I’ll start believing the media is really not about ignoring past abusive/ violent behavior of famous men when they start asking the white actors about their crap records as well.
Co-sign to all of this.
And why is Charlie Sheen never asked about his violent and abusive misogynist behavior?? Is it because he is Martin Sheen’s son??? Or is it because he is abusive to “people who don’t matter”, sex workers and B-list wannabe actress???
I think it’s because Charlie is so obviously a screwed up, destructive, self-destructing, brain-fried a-hole.
The others come across as civil on the surface. With Charlie, you can tell at a glance he’s a troll.
I think it’s because no one expects a real answer, or even much of a fake one, from Charlie Sheen. Now, if people would just stop watching him. He’s got enough money. We don’t need to help him get more.
I agree – Snipes doesn’t have a much better reputation!
I didn’t know that about Snipes. That is disappointing.
Agreed. White actors do not face the same level of scrutiny about domestic violence & rape that black actors do- aside from the example of Charlie Sheen, there’s Sean Penn who has a publicly known record of violent behaviour. He’s not being asked about why he beat up Madonna.
It’s sickening that men can get away with endangering the lives of women & children if they are white to reap the benefits of white privilege.
PS Russell Crowe is another example. From memory he either intimadated a hotel employee by breaking a phone in the lobby or he beat them up with the phone.
Kaiser, I hear you and Howard is the weakest link in the show, but…
Taraji P. Henson has the role of a lifetime and she is killing it. I hope the writing can keep up with the caliber of performance she’s giving. And that’s just from the pilot! I can’t wait to see more, mainly because of her. Besides, if it’s a hit, Howard’s ego will fuck him up and he’ll be fired again.
Word life.
We all get frustrated, Terrace. No excuse. Be a real man and keep your hands to yourself.
This is a perfect comment. There is no excuse for abuse, I don’t care how frustrated you are-man or woman.
Agreed. And NO tv show, no matter how fun to watch, should support that, full stop.
Yes, this. Also, “product of my envoronment” sounds a LOT like not taking responsibility for his actions. So maddening.
Exactly. Product of his environment? Sounds like victim-blaming. Either he’s saying the women *deserved it* or that he learned his behavior. In neither case is he taking any responsibility.
I absolutely loved him in Hustle & Flow, but he makes me nauseous.
1. He refers to six incidents allegedly assaulting women in passive voice: “anything that’s happened” and “things that I got involved with”. Zero accountability.
2. He refers to himself in the third person. That’s almost always a sign something is wrong, unless you’re — like — three years-old.
3. I still recoil at the baby wipes interview. I can’t see him without thinking of that disturbing piece. The dude thinks he can tell how *dirty* a woman is based on her visible bathroom products.
4. He has a new wife and brand new baby. The past is erased. He’s all about “the power of right now” and where he’s “going to”.
Didn’t he also say his former wife looked like him and that’s why he found her attractive?
Be careful gazing into the pond’s reflection, Narcissus.
Seriously. How hard is it to say “I was wrong. I am sorry. I won’t do it again.”
Thank you for this. Was reading through the posts waiting to find something that simply called him out for making excuses. It’s not your environment. It’s not about coping skills. You’re a grown-ass man. Act like it and control yourself or don’t get in relationships.
It sounds like the people at Fox weren’t aware of his background, or at least their CEO seems to be spinning it that way…not surprising she’d want to distance herself from the madness.
What an A..hole! No, they don’t change their spots, it’s in their DNA. He will do it again and again, matter of time unless he gets years of therapy. He looks arrogant too, doesn’t look like he regrets anything, instead blamed on his YOUTH!!
Should’ve hired Snipes. However, what I like is that he stood there to be questioned about his issues and knows people are going to watch him. He wants work, so maybe he will keep his damn hands to himself finally.
Violence to women is virulent. I didn’t change my situation with a violent man, because I had to protect my children, until I had the capacity to move on. After the divorce, he continue his violence thru secret maneuverings that I was not aware, for the next 20 years. I had been married to him for 10 years. All of these 30 years, I’ve tried to support him as the father of my children, but last Christmas he came to gloat over what he had done, to my reputation, that I had been unawares. That’s how long he f**ked with me, and that was what he was proud of – he won! I had no idea that there was a war.
I could find bitterness, and I feel a great deal of anger. Especially when my two second husbands, were not nearly as oppressive, but also violent. My second marriage lasted 5 years; and the third 5 months. I learned to get away from these types of men – and since I’ve had such a bad picker – I’ve given them all up. Of course there are swarming men; but I am here finally for myself! What a relief! I am a strong woman, and I will not only survive, but thrive. I love life, more than ever, and I am free!
Men get away with a lot – especially, when we are unaware of the real dangers of living with an asshole. I honestly believe, that this inequity will come under control, only by the efforts of women focusing together as activists. Their behavior is NOT acceptable! And they have been doing this in the US (probably everywhere) for years. Back in the day there were no safe houses for women; the issue was barely discussed, because of shame; the first book on this phenomena came out about 20 years ago – and we have accomplished much. Obviously we still have work to do on limiting men’s hatefulness. Oh booboo, they were angry? Is this really a good excuse? Their excuses allow continued violence against women.
Women are too needy for a man; we are so damn loyal..,even when it does not serve our best interests. We need to support our femaleness.
“Women are too needy for a man; we are so damn loyal..,even when it does not serve our best interests. We need to support our femaleness.”
Unfortunately too many have bought into the belief that 1). a woman can accomplish anything and everything, but if she doesn’t have a man she is ultimately nothing, 2). to settle, and 3). the notion that if only she loved him more/ harder her love will be able to change him aka all a bad boy needs is a good woman to love him into goodness, which is complete bs.
Because of these notions women endure all manner of crap from sh*tty men.
I hope everything works out for you forever@wolfpup. Older women ask why I’m in my mid30s and not married. You’re right about women being needy for men. I see lots of women staying single and happy
Single and happy here too! It’s not always easy, but it helps to know there are others out there. 🙂
Thinking good thoughts for you, wolfpup!
You are a brave woman wolfpup…welcome to the single and happy club.
The only good thing about Empire is Taraji P. Henson. And sometimes the music, but there isn’t so much.
I thought it would be Nashville-like drama with great musical performances, but the writing and character interaction is just so off. (I am not saying Nashville is any kind of dramatic mastarpiece, but still). Maybe it will get better, but the impression I constantly get, is that the actors just do not have a clue what their character’s intentions are. Therefore everything feels forced and overedited.
BTW, I would have loved Wesley Snipes in this role
Oh, well if that’s the case then…
Pig.
Can’t stand this guy. He’s a conceited abuser.
“…Of not knowing who Terrence Howard is”. Okay. Please do not refer to yourself like that. So maybe he as done what it takes to change…but I am side-eyeing him so hard right now I can almost see my own ear. Watch your step, baby. And don’t even get in TPH’s face, cause then I’m coming for you.
Screw this pig. I won’t watch anything he’s in.
He is a pig.
Watching his show puts money in his pocket. Money he’ll eventually use to defend his next case of abuse.
Sorry, TJP, I can’t.
So…. basically his excuse for being a violent monster are “It’s my parent’s fault not mine, it’s been a whole year since my last physical assault on a woman guys come on, and besides, only God is allowed to judge me”.
I hope he gets hit by a car.
Yes. And he’s in his 40s now- time to stop blaming the emvironment and start taking responsibility. I worry for his child, and wonder what the new wife (#5?) is thinking.
I enjoy the show and love Taraji, but when I heard he was cast I was very disappointed. There are many other talented actors out there, even if they had gone with a more unknown guy.
I do not like Terrence Howard or what he stands for. He seems to be an abuser of women and and an annoying guy generally. I’m not a great fan of Taraji either. Read some interviews from her and I get that she is struggling with what must have been a tough career trajectory. She seems to have a “chip on the shoulder” issue as a result of it.
However, I will support Empire for the breadth of roles and jobs that the show is providing to PoC who have a hard enough time seeing themselves on television.
I’m tired of x-ing out people completely because they are despicable. There is a sliding scale of despicability but who sets the scale? We are all not perfect, and some of us here may be hiding some serious secrets under the snark, shade and judgemental behaviour. More than likely Terrence Howard will disappoint again, but it won’t stop me from watching the show. Even when the person is a jackass.
I do not like Baby Wipes Howard & I don’t think I ever will. I wish more people would ask him about all of these charges.
I miss Wesley Snipes. That man used to be everywhere in the 90s. Gorgeous and great actor. Whatever happened to him???
this is the exact reason why I haven’t given this show a chance, either.
f*ck Terrence Howard, and f*ck those who greenlighted him being hired even more.