Taraji P. Henson Regrets Overreaction On Son’s Racial Profiling Accusations; ‘Empire’ Star Makes Public Apology

By Staff Reporter | Mar 28, 2015 11:58 PM EDT

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Taraji P. Henson, who is best known for her role as Cookie Lyon on the Fox musical drama series "Empire," recently made an apology to the authorities. Her expression of regret came after a video of her son's run-in with a Glendale Police officer went viral.

The 44-year-old "Empire" actress, Taraji P. Henson humbled herself and apologized to a Glendale Department Police officer after claiming that her 20-year-old son, Marcel Johnson, was racially profiled during a traffic stop. Based on a Los Angeles Times report, Henson's apology came after a 40-minute clip of her son's encounter with the authorities widely circulated.

"I would like to publicly apologize to the officer and the Glendale Police Department," Henson's Instagram post reads, with hashtags #TurningANegativeIntoAPositive #LoveTarajiPHenson accompanying the message.

"A mother's job is not easy and neither is a police officer's," the actress added. "Sometimes as humans WE over react without gathering all of 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."

The recovered video footage, which depicts the alleged racist profiling incident of Taraji P. Henson's son during a traffic stop, also shows Johnson was not unlawfully steered when the accused police officer asked her to stop. People additionally reported that through the recorded clip, it was discovered Johnson was requested by the officer to pull over because he's driving through lighted crosswalk while someone was walking in it.

Moreover, the footage also revealed Johnson's confession of marijuana use two hours prior to driving. He also admitted of having unprescribed Ritalin, but none was found in his car.  

After the video footage was released, which confirmed that no racial discrimination took place, the officer accused of the incident even helped Johnson by not giving him a violation for running the yellow light.

The citation, as explained by the officer, will place a moving desecration on the driver's license of Taraji P. Henson's son that will result to being sent to traffic schools. And instead of a violation, the accused officer gave him a misdemeanor violation for the weed.

Meanwhile, Taraji P. Henson's son said in an interview that has been a victim too of "racial profiling" at the University of Southern Carolina. According to the Daily Mail, it also prompted him to transfer to Howard University in Washington D.C.

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