Taraji P. Henson Of ‘Empire’ Admits Police Officer Did Not Racially Profile Her Son, Issues Apology
Lately, police officers in the United States have been getting a huge amount of flak for a series of violent incidents caught on camera. This is why when a Glendale police officer pulled over Taraji P. Henson’s son, the incident immediately made it to the headlines.
However, the issue attracted more attention when Henson strongly reacted about the incident, making allegations that the Glendale California Police Department racially profiled her 20-year-old son, Marcell Johnson.
In a recent magazine interview, Henson accused the police department for illegally searching her son’s car. She related that her son willingly complied with everything that Officer Jose Gutierrez asked him to do, even allowing the police to illegally search his car.
Henson said, “I said, ‘Why did you do that?’ He said, ‘Mom, I figured if I let them just do whatever, they wouldn’t have an excuse to beat me up, or do something.’ ” The Empire star them emphasized, “My son has to walk around with that on his shoulders.”
However, after Officer Gutierrez spoke out about what really happened that night, Henson recanted her accusations. It turns out that the police officer handled her son Marcell with kindness, without knowing that he is actually the son of a Hollywood celebrity. Realizing her overreaction, Henson took to Instagram to make a public apology.
On her profile, the actress posted, “I would like to publicly apologize to the officer and the Glendale Police Department. A mother’s job is not easy and neither is a police officer’s. Sometimes as humans we overreact without gathering all the facts. As a mother in this case I overreacted and for that I apologize. Thank you to that officer for being kind to my son.”
Hey @CBSMiami and @CBSPhilly! Tonight, Taraji P. Henson issues an apology for accusing police of racial profiling. pic.twitter.com/KIZ3Z3plEC
— The Insider (@TheInsider) March 30, 2015
The star’s apology was warmly accepted by Glendale Police Chief Robert Castro, who expressed that he understood Henson’s position as a parent. Castro said, “Being a father, I understand having young kids. We do accept it and we’re moving on.”
The officer involved also understood Henson’s explanation and received her public apology. “I do appreciate that she gave me an apology and the department an apology,” the police officer said.
With this, Henson’s case with the Glendale Police Department is now closed. After all the stress about the issue of her son’s pullover, Henson can now relax and bask in all the glory as she was just recently named as one of People‘s Most Beautiful 2015.
[Image by Angela Weiss, Getty Images]
