Practice English Speaking&Listening with: Taraji P. Henson Talks Jussie Smollett Attack: ‘Hate Won’t Win’ | TODAY

>>> WE ARE WELCOME K TARAJI P.

>>> WE ARE WELCOME K TARAJI P. HENSON TO STUDIO 1A.

HENSON TO STUDIO 1A. SHE’S KNOWN FOR HER STAR ROLE ON

SHE’S KNOWN FOR HER STAR ROLE ON THE HIT SERIES "EMPIRE."

THE HIT SERIES "EMPIRE." TARAJI JUST RECEIVED HER STAR ON

TARAJI JUST RECEIVED HER STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME.

THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME. LOOKING GOOD.

LOOKING GOOD. >> IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH, SHE’S

>> IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH, SHE’S STARRING IN A NEW MOVIE OUT THIS

STARRING IN A NEW MOVIE OUT THIS WEEK CALLED "WHAT MEN WANT."

WEEK CALLED "WHAT MEN WANT." SHE PLAYS A SPORTS AGENT WHO

SHE PLAYS A SPORTS AGENT WHO SUDDENLY REALIZES SHE CAN HEAR

SUDDENLY REALIZES SHE CAN HEAR MEN’S THOUGHTS.

MEN’S THOUGHTS. >> STOP DOING THAT.

>> STOP DOING THAT. >> STOP DOING WHAT?

>> STOP DOING WHAT? >> TALKING WITHOUT MOVING YOUR

>> TALKING WITHOUT MOVING YOUR MOUTH AND SAYING THINGS YOU

MOUTH AND SAYING THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T SAY TO YOUR BOSS.

SHOULDN’T SAY TO YOUR BOSS. >> I SWEAR ON MY LIFE I WOULD

>> I SWEAR ON MY LIFE I WOULD NEVER SAY ANYTHING DISRESPECTFUL

NEVER SAY ANYTHING DISRESPECTFUL OR INAPPROPRIATE TO YOU EVER.

OR INAPPROPRIATE TO YOU EVER. >> WHICH IS MORE THEN I COULD

>> WHICH IS MORE THEN I COULD SAY FOR YOU.

SAY FOR YOU. I HEARD YOU SAY IT.

I HEARD YOU SAY IT. >> CAN YOU HEAR MY INNER

>> CAN YOU HEAR MY INNER THOUGHTS?

THOUGHTS? >> I CAN HEAR YOUR INNER

>> I CAN HEAR YOUR INNER THOUGHTS!

THOUGHTS! I’M SCREAMING.

I’M SCREAMING. >> [ LAUGHTER ]

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> TARAJI, GOOD MORNING.

>> TARAJI, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> YOU ARE SO PERFECT, PERFECT,

>> YOU ARE SO PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT, FOR THIS ROLE.

PERFECT, FOR THIS ROLE. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> IT’S REALLY FUN.

>> IT’S REALLY FUN. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT

>> WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT THE MOVIE.

THE MOVIE. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT YOUR

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT YOUR CO-STAR JUSSIE SMOLLETT.

CO-STAR JUSSIE SMOLLETT. OF COURSE YOU PLAY COOKIE ON

OF COURSE YOU PLAY COOKIE ON "EMPIRE" AND YOU’RE HIS MOM IN

"EMPIRE" AND YOU’RE HIS MOM IN THE SHOW.

THE SHOW. HE JUST MADE HIS FIRST PUBLIC

HE JUST MADE HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE OVER THE WEEKEND.

APPEARANCE OVER THE WEEKEND. WE’LL PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

WE’LL PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF IT. >> I WAS BRUISED BUT MY RIBS

>> I WAS BRUISED BUT MY RIBS WERE NOT CRACKED.

WERE NOT CRACKED. JUST BECAUSE THERE’S BEEN A LOT

JUST BECAUSE THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAS BEEN SAID

OF STUFF THAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT ME THAT’S ABSOLUTELY NOT

ABOUT ME THAT’S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

TRUE. >> HE’S ALREADY BACK AND

>> HE’S ALREADY BACK AND PERFORMING.

PERFORMING. I KNOW YOU’VE SAID HOW MUCH YOUR

I KNOW YOU’VE SAID HOW MUCH YOUR HEART GOES OUT TO HIM.

HEART GOES OUT TO HIM. WHAT’S YOUR REACTION?

WHAT’S YOUR REACTION? >> YOU KNOW, LIFE IS SPIRITUAL

>> YOU KNOW, LIFE IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND WE’RE SEEING IT

WARFARE AND WE’RE SEEING IT RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.

RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES. YOU JUST HAVE TO STAY CLOSE TO

YOU JUST HAVE TO STAY CLOSE TO WHAT YOU KNOW.

WHAT YOU KNOW. JUSSIE IS LOVE.

JUSSIE IS LOVE. THAT’S WHO HE IS, AND THAT’S ALL

THAT’S WHO HE IS, AND THAT’S ALL HE KNOWS, SO IN THIS SITUATION,

HE KNOWS, SO IN THIS SITUATION, HATE WON’T WIN.

HATE WON’T WIN. IT WILL NOT.

IT WILL NOT. >> WHAT KIND OF WORDS OF

>> WHAT KIND OF WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT DID YOU GIVE HIM?

ENCOURAGEMENT DID YOU GIVE HIM? >> I JUST TOLD HIM TO WALK IN

>> I JUST TOLD HIM TO WALK IN HIS TRUTH, YOU KNOW.

HIS TRUTH, YOU KNOW. JUST STAY THE JUSSIE THAT

JUST STAY THE JUSSIE THAT EVERYBODY LOVES AND YOU SAW THE

EVERYBODY LOVES AND YOU SAW THE OUTPOUR OF LOVE THAT HE HAD, SO

OUTPOUR OF LOVE THAT HE HAD, SO HE HAS TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE,

HE HAS TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN HIS CAREER.

YOU KNOW, IN HIS CAREER. I JUST TOLD HIM JUST WALK IN

I JUST TOLD HIM JUST WALK IN YOUR TRUTH, BABY.

YOUR TRUTH, BABY. NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT FROM YOU.

NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT FROM YOU. >> YOU HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON IN

>> YOU HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW, AND ALL OF

YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW, AND ALL OF IT IS GOOD.

IT IS GOOD. LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS MOVIE,

LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS MOVIE, "WHAT MEN WANT."

"WHAT MEN WANT." I REMEMBER AN OLD MOVIE CALLED

I REMEMBER AN OLD MOVIE CALLED "WHAT WOMEN WANT."

"WHAT WOMEN WANT." I GUESS THAFRST WAS THE JUMPING

I GUESS THAFRST WAS THE JUMPING POINT.

POINT. NOW WE GET TO HEAR MEN’S

NOW WE GET TO HEAR MEN’S INTERNAL THOUGHTS.

INTERNAL THOUGHTS. >> TERRIFYING.

>> TERRIFYING. >> IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK.

>> IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK. I THINK WOMEN’S MISCONCEPTION IS

I THINK WOMEN’S MISCONCEPTION IS THAT THEY’RE DRIVEN BY SEX AND

THAT THEY’RE DRIVEN BY SEX AND MONEY.

MONEY. I THINK THAT’S AN IMPORTANT PART

I THINK THAT’S AN IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY HUMAN.

OF EVERY HUMAN. YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND

YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND WE LIKE TO FEEL GOOD, RIGHT?

WE LIKE TO FEEL GOOD, RIGHT? BUT I THINK WE HANDLED IT WELL.

BUT I THINK WE HANDLED IT WELL. I THINK WE HANDLED THE GUYS

I THINK WE HANDLED THE GUYS REALLY WELL IN THE FILM.

REALLY WELL IN THE FILM. I DON’T THINK ANYONE THAT WAS

I DON’T THINK ANYONE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THIS PROJECT,

ATTACHED TO THIS PROJECT, CERTAINLY WE DIDN’T WANT TO MALE

CERTAINLY WE DIDN’T WANT TO MALE BASH.

BASH. I LOVE THE MEN IN MY LIFE.

I LOVE THE MEN IN MY LIFE. I’M THE MOTHER OF A SON, AND YOU

I’M THE MOTHER OF A SON, AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED EACH OTHER, SO I

KNOW, WE NEED EACH OTHER, SO I THINK WE HANDLED THE MEN REALLY

THINK WE HANDLED THE MEN REALLY WELL IN THIS STORY.

WELL IN THIS STORY. >> YOU ARE SO FUNNY IN THIS.

>> YOU ARE SO FUNNY IN THIS. YOUR TIMING IS SPOT ON.

YOUR TIMING IS SPOT ON. I GOT TO SEE IT AND WAS LAUGHING

I GOT TO SEE IT AND WAS LAUGHING THROUGH SO MUCH OF IT.

THROUGH SO MUCH OF IT. THEN I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN

THEN I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT COMEDY WAS YOUR FIRST LOVE.

THAT COMEDY WAS YOUR FIRST LOVE. THAT’S WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO.

THAT’S WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO. >> THAT’S WHAT I SET OFF TO L.A.

>> THAT’S WHAT I SET OFF TO L.A. FOR.

FOR. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BOOK A

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BOOK A SITCOM.

SITCOM. I WAS A SINGLE MOTHER, I

I WAS A SINGLE MOTHER, I CERTAINLY COULD USE THOSE

CERTAINLY COULD USE THOSE WORKING HOURS.

WORKING HOURS. THEY’RE

THEY’RE SITCOMS.

SITCOMS. I STARTED OFF ON SISTER, SISTER.

I STARTED OFF ON SISTER, SISTER. SMART GUY, PARENTHOOD, SAVED BY

SMART GUY, PARENTHOOD, SAVED BY THE BELL.

THE BELL. I WAS LIKE YES, I’M GOING TO

I WAS LIKE YES, I’M GOING TO BOOK A SITCOM.

BOOK A SITCOM. AND THEN I BOOKED BABY BOY.

AND THEN I BOOKED BABY BOY. AFTER THAT IT WAS SERIOUS ROLE

AFTER THAT IT WAS SERIOUS ROLE AFTER SERIOUS ROLE.

AFTER SERIOUS ROLE. ONE DAY I’LL BE FUNNY, I GUESS.

ONE DAY I’LL BE FUNNY, I GUESS. 20 YEARS LATER.

20 YEARS LATER. >> YOU’RE LIKE LITERALLY HAVING

>> YOU’RE LIKE LITERALLY HAVING THE LAST LAUGH NOW.

THE LAST LAUGH NOW. IT’S SO COOL, I WAS SAYING TO

IT’S SO COOL, I WAS SAYING TO YOU DURING THE BREAK THAT I SAW

YOU DURING THE BREAK THAT I SAW WHAT YOU SAID AT THE HOLLYWOOD

WHAT YOU SAID AT THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME WHEN YOU GOT YOUR

WALK OF FAME WHEN YOU GOT YOUR STAR, AND WHAT A MOMENT TO KIND

STAR, AND WHAT A MOMENT TO KIND OF SIT AND TAKE MEASURE OF

OF SIT AND TAKE MEASURE OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU’VE

EVERYTHING THAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED AND THINKING ABOUT

ACCOMPLISHED AND THINKING ABOUT YOU COMING OUT TO HOLLYWOOD WITH

YOU COMING OUT TO HOLLYWOOD WITH A 1-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BOY AND JUST

A 1-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BOY AND JUST GOING FOR IT.

GOING FOR IT. THAT TOOK A LOT OF GUTS.

THAT TOOK A LOT OF GUTS. >> IT DID, BUT YOU KNOW WHEN

>> IT DID, BUT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE 20, YOU’RE FEARLESS.

YOU’RE 20, YOU’RE FEARLESS. IN YOUR 20s YOU’RE LIKE

IN YOUR 20s YOU’RE LIKE FEARLESS.

FEARLESS. IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN NOW, I

IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN NOW, I PROBABLY WOULD.

PROBABLY WOULD. IT’D TAKE ME A LOT OF

IT’D TAKE ME A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FAMILY AND

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

FRIENDS. BACK THEN I HAD THE WHOLE WORLD

BACK THEN I HAD THE WHOLE WORLD AHEAD OF ME.

AHEAD OF ME. >> WEREN’T PEOPLE SAYING TO YOU,

>> WEREN’T PEOPLE SAYING TO YOU, TARAJI WHAT ARE YOU DOING,

TARAJI WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU’RE GOING TO L.A. YOU HAVE A

YOU’RE GOING TO L.A. YOU HAVE A BABY.

BABY. >> PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS DO THAT.

>> PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS DO THAT. MY DAD GAVE ME -- MY PARENTS --

MY DAD GAVE ME -- MY PARENTS -- I KNEW I HAD A SAFETY NET SO I

I KNEW I HAD A SAFETY NET SO I WASN’T AFRAID TO TAKE THAT LEAP.

WASN’T AFRAID TO TAKE THAT LEAP. I JUST WASN’T.

I JUST WASN’T. I WAS TRAINED.

I WAS TRAINED. I WENT TO COLLEGE.

I WENT TO COLLEGE. I FELT LIKE I HAD ALL THE TOOLS

I FELT LIKE I HAD ALL THE TOOLS FOR SUCCESS, AND THEN I HAD THIS

FOR SUCCESS, AND THEN I HAD THIS KID LOOKING AT ME LIKE MOM, YOU

KID LOOKING AT ME LIKE MOM, YOU KNOW, SO IT’S LIKE I HAVE TO

KNOW, SO IT’S LIKE I HAVE TO SUCCEED FOR HIM BECAUSE IF I

SUCCEED FOR HIM BECAUSE IF I FAIL, THEN WHAT AM I TEACHING

FAIL, THEN WHAT AM I TEACHING HIM, YOU KNOW?

HIM, YOU KNOW? >> AND DID IT COME EASY?

>> AND DID IT COME EASY? DID YOU GET THE FIRST GIG?

DID YOU GET THE FIRST GIG? >> NO, NOTHING IN LIFE IS EASY.

>> NO, NOTHING IN LIFE IS EASY. >> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?

>> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU? >> IT TOOK AWHILE.

>> IT TOOK AWHILE. LIKE I WAS WORKING ODD YOU KNOW,

LIKE I WAS WORKING ODD YOU KNOW, JOBS HERE AND THERE.

JOBS HERE AND THERE. I WAS A TEMP AGENT.

I WAS A TEMP AGENT. I WORKED FOR A TEMPORARY AGENCY,

I WORKED FOR A TEMPORARY AGENCY, AND THEN I TURNED INTOTHAT INTO

AND THEN I TURNED INTOTHAT INTO FULL-TIME POSITION AT AN

FULL-TIME POSITION AT AN ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND THEN AFTER

ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND THEN AFTER THAT I WAS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

THAT I WAS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND SO IT WASN’T EASY.

AND SO IT WASN’T EASY. ONE YEAR I MADE CANDLES.

ONE YEAR I MADE CANDLES. THAT WAS MY INCOME, YEAH.

THAT WAS MY INCOME, YEAH. >> I WAS READING THERE WAS A

>> I WAS READING THERE WAS A MOMENT WHERE YOU’D BOOKED A

MOMENT WHERE YOU’D BOOKED A ROLE.

ROLE. YOU HAD DONE WELL, AND IT GOT A

YOU HAD DONE WELL, AND IT GOT A WILL THE OF ACCLAIM, AND YOU

WILL THE OF ACCLAIM, AND YOU WERE LIKE THIS IS THE MOMENT.

WERE LIKE THIS IS THE MOMENT. THIS IS THE MOMENT IT’S LIKE

THIS IS THE MOMENT IT’S LIKE HAPPENING FOR ME, AND EVEN THEN

HAPPENING FOR ME, AND EVEN THEN IT TOOK TIME, WHICH I THINK IS

IT TOOK TIME, WHICH I THINK IS JUST SO TRUE ABOUT LIFE.

JUST SO TRUE ABOUT LIFE. >> YEAH.

>> YEAH. I DON’T THINK PEOPLE REALLY

I DON’T THINK PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE REALLY IS

UNDERSTAND THAT THERE REALLY IS NO OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.

NO OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. THERE REALLY ISN’T.

THERE REALLY ISN’T. THERE’S ALWAYS A STORY BEFORE

THERE’S ALWAYS A STORY BEFORE YOU SEE THE BIG BANG, YOU KNOW.

YOU SEE THE BIG BANG, YOU KNOW. IT’S ALWAYS A STRUGGLE BEFORE

IT’S ALWAYS A STRUGGLE BEFORE THAT.

THAT. SO YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT SEEMS

SO YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE OH, IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT,

LIKE OH, IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT, BUT IT DIDN’T.

BUT IT DIDN’T. IT REALLY DIDN’T.

IT REALLY DIDN’T. >> DID IT JUST SET IN ON THAT

>> DID IT JUST SET IN ON THAT HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME DAY WHEN

HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME DAY WHEN YOU WERE SITTING THERE WITH YOUR

YOU WERE SITTING THERE WITH YOUR STAR?

STAR? >> I STILL -- I HAVE TO GO BACK

>> I STILL -- I HAVE TO GO BACK TO MAKE SURE IT’S STILL THERE.

TO MAKE SURE IT’S STILL THERE. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN I SAT

YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN I SAT DOWN TO TAKE THAT PICTURE, THE

DOWN TO TAKE THAT PICTURE, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS I MADE

FIRST THING I DID WAS I MADE SURE IT WAS STUCK.

SURE IT WAS STUCK. I WAS LIKE IT’S NOT GOING TO

I WAS LIKE IT’S NOT GOING TO MOVE, IS IT?

MOVE, IS IT? EVERYONE LAUGHED.

EVERYONE LAUGHED. I’VE BEEN GETTING A COUPLE FANS

I’VE BEEN GETTING A COUPLE FANS HAVE BEEN GOING BY TAKING

HAVE BEEN GOING BY TAKING PICTURES STANDING OVER IT, SO

PICTURES STANDING OVER IT, SO THAT’S REAL.

THAT’S REAL. I NEED TO GO BACK AND SEE FOR

I NEED TO GO BACK AND SEE FOR MYSELF.

MYSELF. >> SO "WHAT MEN WANT" HODA SAW

>> SO "WHAT MEN WANT" HODA SAW IT OVER THE WEEKEND AND WAS

IT OVER THE WEEKEND AND WAS CRACKING UP.

CRACKING UP. DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE MORE

DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE MORE COMEDY IN YOUR FUTURE NOW THAT

COMEDY IN YOUR FUTURE NOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE REDISCOVERED THIS?

PEOPLE HAVE REDISCOVERED THIS? >> THAT’S ALL I WANT TO DO,

>> THAT’S ALL I WANT TO DO, ANOTHER COMEDY.

ANOTHER COMEDY. THAT’S OKAY I’M NOT COMPLAINING.

THAT’S OKAY I’M NOT COMPLAINING. I JUST WOULD LOVE TO LAUGH SOME

I JUST WOULD LOVE TO LAUGH SOME MORE.

MORE. >> I NEVER THOUGHT THERE WOULD

>> I NEVER THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE SUCH GREAT COMEDY IN SOME SEX

BE SUCH GREAT COMEDY IN SOME SEX SCENES, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU,

SCENES, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, TARAJI, JUST WATCH FOR THOSE.

TARAJI, JUST WATCH FOR THOSE. THEY’RE TOO MUCH.

THEY’RE TOO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH