Instead of calling out the Cookie Lyon depicter and her former 'Empire' co-star, social media users praise her for being 'a good friend' to the embattled actor.
- Jun 13, 2022
AceShowbiz - Taraji P. Henson remains a loyal friend to Jussie Smollett, despite the risk of catching heat from his critics. The actress, who grew close with the embattled actor when starring together on FOX's musical drama "Empire", has hung out with him following his conviction on six counts of felony disorderly conduct pertaining to making four false police reports in his 2019 hate crime hoax.
It's the Cookie Lyon depicter herself who shared the news of her reunion with her on-screen son. Making use of her Instagram account on Saturday, June 11, she shared several photos of her weekend outing, including one image that showed her sitting next to Jussie.
In the images, Taraji showed off her chic style in a sleeveless denim crop top and matching flare pants, completed with a black belt. She also wore a pair of stylish sunglasses, hoop earrings and flip flops, while her dyed hair was pulled in an updo. "Yesterday," she captioned the snaps, adding several heart and lips emojis.
Surprisingly, many loved the interaction between Taraji and Jussie. "That Jussie in the slide! I love you both!" one follower commented on her post. Another fan reacted to the picture featuring Jussie, "Jussieeeeeeee!!! Love to see it."
Praising the awards-winning actress for standing by Jussie, one person wrote, "One thing bout Miss Cookie she gone support the folks she love." Another raved over the "Hidden Figures" star, "I really wish him the best! God bless her for being a friend!"
"If anything I feel like he needs a friend, so I'm happy she's there to support whatever he's going through," a fifth person wrote, as another weighed in, "Good for her. If someone is your friend you support them." Agreeing, someone else added, "Good for them ..I'm happy Taraji isn't letting social media bullies dictate her life and who she can have in it."
"When friendship is real you're going to stick beside each other no matter what the people say!!" one other echoed the sentiment, while a few also showed their support for Jussie as writing comments like, "He's not canceled I love him" and "He cancelled ? By who ?"
Jussie was sentenced to serve 150 days in county jail as well as two and a half years on probation after he's found guilty of making false police reports in March. At the time, Taraji was among those who publicly called for his freedom.
"I am not here to debate you on his innocence but we can agree that the punishment does not fit the crime," she wrote on Instagram, before invoking the case of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old African American boy murdered in 1955 after he was falsely accused of harassing a white woman.
"Emmett Till was brutally beat and ultimately murdered because of a lie and none of the people involved with his demise spent one day in jail, even after Carolyn Bryant admitted that her claims were false," she continued arguing. "No one was hurt or killed during Jussie's ordeal. He has already lost everything, EVERYTHING!"
She added, "He can't get a job. No one in Hollywood will hire him and again as an artist who loves to create, that is prison. My prayer is that he is freed and put on house arrest and probation because in this case that would seem fair."
Jussie is currently released on a $150,000 personal recognizance bond while appealing his conviction.
