Celebrity Quotes of the Week: Taraji P. Henson Tears Up Over Racism in Hollywood

Plus, words from James Blake and Beverly Johnson.

Taraji P. Henson gets emotional thinking about how Cookie broke down cultural barriers in Hollywood: - "She is everybody’s alter ego. She crosses cultures... I cried because, for so long in Hollywood, I’ve been told that Black women don’t do well overseas, that they can’t open a film overseas. [Empire's standing ovation in Paris] was the best moment of my life. That’s better than any trophy, any award, any nomination."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Taraji P. Henson gets emotional thinking about how Cookie broke down cultural barriers in Hollywood: - "She is everybody’s alter ego. She crosses cultures... I cried because, for so long in Hollywood, I’ve been told that Black women don’t do well overseas, that they can’t open a film overseas. [Empire's standing ovation in Paris] was the best moment of my life. That’s better than any trophy, any award, any nomination."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Tennis star James Blake says race was definitely a factor when he was mistakenly attacked by NYPD: - "I'm shaken up. A couple bumps and bruises, but all right… In my mind there's probably a race factor involved, but no matter what, there's no reason for anybody to do that to anybody. I was just standing there. I wasn't running. It's not even close [to being OK]. It's blatantly unnecessary."(Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage)

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Tennis star James Blake says race was definitely a factor when he was mistakenly attacked by NYPD: - "I'm shaken up. A couple bumps and bruises, but all right… In my mind there's probably a race factor involved, but no matter what, there's no reason for anybody to do that to anybody. I was just standing there. I wasn't running. It's not even close [to being OK]. It's blatantly unnecessary."(Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage)

Kylie Jenner doesn’t get all the fuss about her age: - "It just makes no sense that, even a month ago, people were complaining that I was too young to be doing certain things, and now people are just OK with it because I’m grown.”(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Kylie Jenner doesn’t get all the fuss about her age: - "It just makes no sense that, even a month ago, people were complaining that I was too young to be doing certain things, and now people are just OK with it because I’m grown.”(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Beverly Johnson has forgiven Bill Cosby for what he’s allegedly done: - "I forgive you… I just feel that he is a lightning rod for a much bigger conversation and the conversation would be the rape culture in America."(Photo: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for LA PRESSE PR)

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Beverly Johnson has forgiven Bill Cosby for what he’s allegedly done: - "I forgive you… I just feel that he is a lightning rod for a much bigger conversation and the conversation would be the rape culture in America."(Photo: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for LA PRESSE PR)

Photo By Photo: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for LA PRESSE PR

Michael Ealy says a movie soundtrack definitely helps to seduce women: - "[In real life] I don't have John Legend music playing every time I say 'I love you.’"(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Chrysalis Butterfly Ball)

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Michael Ealy says a movie soundtrack definitely helps to seduce women: - "[In real life] I don't have John Legend music playing every time I say 'I love you.’"(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Chrysalis Butterfly Ball)

Photo By Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Chrysalis Butterfly Ball

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Mac Miller almost recorded a Christmas album with Cam’Ron: - "It's funny because we were going to do a project for Christmas, we were going to do a Christmas album. It was, like, around the same time I was gonna do the Pharrell EP. I was also gonna do a Cam'ron Christmas album... Looking back, I wish I [put it out].”(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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Mac Miller almost recorded a Christmas album with Cam’Ron: - "It's funny because we were going to do a project for Christmas, we were going to do a Christmas album. It was, like, around the same time I was gonna do the Pharrell EP. I was also gonna do a Cam'ron Christmas album... Looking back, I wish I [put it out].”(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Rick Ross is keeping his head up during his assault case: - “We’re staying positive right now, staying focused.”(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI)

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Rick Ross is keeping his head up during his assault case: - “We’re staying positive right now, staying focused.”(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI)

Don't bring a Drake sign to a Meek Mill concert: - “Put that Drake sign up again n***a… F**k you talking about, you f**kin' clown. Don’t ever f**kin' come in here playing with no Meek Millie trying to pick on me like I’m a f**king dweeb or something.”(Photo: WENN.com)

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Don't bring a Drake sign to a Meek Mill concert: - “Put that Drake sign up again n***a… F**k you talking about, you f**kin' clown. Don’t ever f**kin' come in here playing with no Meek Millie trying to pick on me like I’m a f**king dweeb or something.”(Photo: WENN.com)

Fat Joe really regrets passing on signing Eminem: - “I got so many regrets. The biggest is that Eminem gave me so many demos — six different times he approached me and I didn’t sign him. Shame on me.”(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

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Fat Joe really regrets passing on signing Eminem: - “I got so many regrets. The biggest is that Eminem gave me so many demos — six different times he approached me and I didn’t sign him. Shame on me.”(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images

Don’t ask Serena Williams why she doesn’t smile after a match: - “Umm, its 11:30. To be perfectly honest, I don’t really want to be here. I just want to be in bed right now and wake up early to practice and I don’t want to answer these questions. You guys keep asking me the same questions… Just being honest.”(Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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Don’t ask Serena Williams why she doesn’t smile after a match: - “Umm, its 11:30. To be perfectly honest, I don’t really want to be here. I just want to be in bed right now and wake up early to practice and I don’t want to answer these questions. You guys keep asking me the same questions… Just being honest.”(Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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Shonda Rhimes has decided for sure that she never wants to get married: - “I was seriously dating somebody, and I was like, I don’t want to do this. I guess I had been secretly feeling that way and writing it for [Grey's Anatomy character] Cristina… We’re all so conditioned to want it; I felt like there must be something wrong with me.”(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Shonda Rhimes has decided for sure that she never wants to get married: - “I was seriously dating somebody, and I was like, I don’t want to do this. I guess I had been secretly feeling that way and writing it for [Grey's Anatomy character] Cristina… We’re all so conditioned to want it; I felt like there must be something wrong with me.”(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Misty Copeland once felt isolated as a Black ballerina: - “I’m a Black dancer. That’s who I am. It’s so much a part of my story. I didn’t fit the mold. Based on my body type, pedigree, and background, I should not have been part of one of the world’s greatest ballet companies. I don’t think the ballet world will ever accept me. I have a large chest [and] I’m muscular.”(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Misty Copeland once felt isolated as a Black ballerina: - “I’m a Black dancer. That’s who I am. It’s so much a part of my story. I didn’t fit the mold. Based on my body type, pedigree, and background, I should not have been part of one of the world’s greatest ballet companies. I don’t think the ballet world will ever accept me. I have a large chest [and] I’m muscular.”(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Morris Chestnut: January 1  - The Rosewood actor celebrates his 47th birthday this week.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Morris Chestnut hasn't really done anything crazy to get a woman's attention: - “To be honest with you, I can’t really say I’ve done anything crazy… In the past, when I was younger, I never did anything crazy to get someone’s attention. I try to keep it pretty smooth.”(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Sanaa Lathan on her biggest relationship deal breaker: - “I think a big one for me is somebody not wanting you to shine. Not being happy for your success. That’s a big one."(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Sanaa Lathan on her biggest relationship deal breaker: - “I think a big one for me is somebody not wanting you to shine. Not being happy for your success. That’s a big one."(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images