Speculation and chatter surrounding a supposed past relationship between actress Taraji P. Henson and rapper Drake have reignited following Henson’s hosting of the BET Awards on Sunday night.
The event, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, saw Henson, 53, take center stage, sparking intrigue with a playful nod to recent music controversies.
The evening began with Megan Thee Stallion’s energetic performance, which included the track “Hiss,” rumored to be a diss aimed at Drake. Henson added fuel to the fire with her own twist, parodying Kendrick Lamar’s famous Drake diss track “Not Like Us.” Clad in a red hoodie, baseball cap, and jeans—a clear homage to Lamar’s recent concert attire—Henson’s playful homage quickly caught attention.
However, the spotlight shifted to Henson’s alleged romantic history with Drake, 37, after social media users pointed out past photos of the two together at various events.
A Twitter user, @aubreysattorney, highlighted what they perceived as hypocrisy in Henson’s performance, referencing her alleged relationship with Drake when he was 23 and she was reportedly in her 40s.
DJ Akademiks also joined the conversation, though inaccurately stating Henson’s age during the alleged time of their association. Dating rumors between the two surfaced online around 2010 but were formally dismissed by Henson during a 2011 episode of the Wendy Williams Show.
Addressing the speculation, Henson clarified, “Drake was a friend,” emphasizing their age gap and her maternal perspective, given her son Marcell Johnson’s age similarity to Drake.
At the time of Henson’s Wendy Williams interview, Drake was 25 years old, and Marcell Johnson, born in 1994, was approximately 17. Despite Henson’s previous clarification, the BET Awards have reignited interest in their rumored relationship, prompting fans and media alike to revisit the past.
As of now, Taraji P. Henson has not publicly responded to the resurfaced dating rumors following her BET Awards appearance.
