Taraji P. Henson Blasts 50 Cent Over ‘Empire’ Criticisms

Taraji P. Henson has taken aim at 50 Cent after the rapper accused the producers of her new TV show Empire of copying the promotional tactics for his own series, Power.

The rapper-turned-entrepreneur, real name Curtis Jackson, is a co-creator and producer of Power, a gritty drama about a New York club boss who tries to turn his life around and leave his underground career as a drug kingpin behind.

His series has been picked up for a second season by bosses at Starz, but the hip-hop superstar couldn’t help but notice alleged similarities in the plot and marketing for Empire, which stars Terrence Howard as a reformed drug dealer who reinvents himself as a music mogul at the top of a hip-hop empire.

Taking to Instagram before the New Year, 50 Cent shared (now deleted) side-by-side snaps of the two shows’ leading men in a bid to underline his argument, and wrote, “POWER Season 2 is unbelievably good trust me. I have the best writers and show runner. I like Terrence howard and Taraji Henson. I don’t like that They would copy the Marketing.”

Henson, who plays Howard’s onscreen ex, was quizzed about 50 Cent’s comments on Twitter on Monday , and she refused to get riled up by his criticism.

Instead, the Oscar nominee took a swipe at 50 by replying, “I pay attention to $’s (dollars) NOT cents”.

She then quipped, “I couldn’t even find the ‘cent’ sign (on her keyboard)!!”

“@KiaSoFlawless: @TherealTaraji how do you feel about what 50cent said about you and Terrance Howard?”<~ I pay attention to $'s NOT cents?✌️

— Taraji P. Henson (@TherealTaraji) January 5, 2015

“@drummjr58: @TherealTaraji @KiaSoFlawless ouch! No time for small change?”<~ IJS I couldn't even find the "cent" sign!! #ByeBitch