Taraji P. Henson Presents at Spirit Awards 2019, Skips Carpet

Taraji P. Henson is pretty in pink while posing backstage at the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday afternoon (February 23) in Santa Monica, Calif.

The 48-year-old Empire actress skipped the carpet, but she made an appearance at the end of the show to present one of the final awards. It’s possible that she wanted to avoid questions about her co-star Jussie Smollett.

Taraji presented the award for Best Male Lead, which went to First Reformed‘s Ethan Hawke.

FYI: Taraji is wearing a custom neon pink bouclé-crepe one-shoulder ruffle gown from Michael Kors Collection.