The "Empire" star faced backlash Tuesday for a now deleted Instagram story in which she compared protests against Kelly to those against disgraced former producer Harvey Weinstein.
The recent Lifetime docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly," which chronicles allegations of abuse, predatory behavior and pedophilia against the singer, has brought Kelly back into the spotlight. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Writer Ernest Owens tweeted Henson's posting before it was deleted.
"Somebody tap Taraji on the shoulder and tell her now isn't the time to throw her career in the drain for defending a trash can named R. Kelly," Owens wrote. "Weinstein didn't need to be muted because he is currently facing charges faster than R. Kelly is right now!"
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to five sex crime charges in New York, including two counts of rape.
The consensus on social media seemed to be that Henson was implying that Kelly was being treated unfairly.
Henson was also linked in criticism with her "What Men Want" co-star, singer Erykah Badu, who angered fans over the weekend when she reportedly said during a Chicago concert that Kelly deserved love.
Badu later tweeted about loving people unconditionally and "poor choices."
"Erykah Badu reduced R.Kelly's crimes to 'poor choices,'" writer DeAsia Paige tweeted. "Taraji P. Henson made a false equivalency between him and Harvey Weinstein. The aunties are really exposing their internalized misogynoir, and I can't deal. Black girls deserve better."
Henson later clarified her remarks in a tweet.
"LET ME BE CLEAR R. KELLY IS GUILTY AND WRONG AND SHOULD BE MUTED PERIOD!!!!," she tweeted.
CNN has reached out to reps for Henson and Badu for further comment.
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