“I don’t care what other people are doing or what the industry says is hot or not,” the famous face under the mask tells EW of appearing on the reality competition.

Oscar nominee revealed as The Masked Singer’s Scarab explains why she did the show and what she wishes she’d changed

"I don't care what other people are doing or what the industry says is hot or not," the famous face under the mask tells EW of appearing on the reality competition.

By Jillian Sederholm

Jillian Sederholm

Jillian Sederholm is news director at *. *She has worked at EW for more than eight years. Jillian has previously worked as a reporter, social media editor, and homepage producer at NBC News, Digital First Media, Newsday, and *Random Lengths News.*

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and Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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January 21, 2026 9:00 p.m. ET

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Scarab on 'The Masked Singer'. Credit:

Trae Patton/FOX

**This article contains spoilers for *The Masked Singer* season 14 episode 3, "*Clueless* Night."**

It was *Clueless* Night on *The Masked Singer* and things were way harsh — the show sent home not one but two masked celebs (as if)!

Season 14 also got its first wildcard contestant, with Crane entering the competition and promptly upending things. All of this meant there were bound to be some difficult decisions made, and the episode, like, totally delivered on that front.

First to go back to the tool chest was Handyman. The panel all picked up what the show was throwing down with the rapper clues. Guesses to his identity included: Chuck D (picked by Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg), Ice-T (Rita Ora), Mr. T (Ken Jeong), and Tone Lōc (Robin Thicke).

Thicke officially got his first win of the season — Handyman was unmasked to reveal the Grammy-nominated "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina" rapper.

Then, the show shocked the world by sending Scarab home. After a season-long tease that one of the contestants is the most decorated to grace the *Masked Singer* stage, the judges all felt like Scarab was it. Their guesses to her identity included Regina King (Thicke's), Angela Bassett (McCarthy-Wahlberg's), Cynthia Erivo (Jeong's), and Taraji P. Henson (Ora's).

The newest panelist, who just last week correctly clocked Tiffany Haddish as Le Who Who, continued her winning streak. Scarab was unmasked to reveal Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-, Emmy-, and Tony-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson.

Ahead, Henson exclusively talks with ** about competing on *The Masked Singer.*

**: Your name has come up as a guess for years on *The Masked Singer*, but I was still completely shocked that it was really you under there. How did you end up on this season?**

**TARAJI P. HENSON: **I heard about them guessing me every year, and I was like, well, let me just give the people what they've been asking for.

**What did you think of the judges' guesses for you?*** *

I thought they were kinda funny. Viola Davis, I thought that was kind of interesting. Then somebody said Angela Bassett. It was just interesting and funny to be under the mask hearing them guess that I'm some of my peers.

**Were you surprised that Rita Ora was the one to accurately get you?**

I figured it would probably be Rita Ora because we did *That's My Jam* together. She was the last person that I was around in close proximity with, so I was like, it'll probably be her. And the way she started guessing, I was like, ugh, she's gonna get it.

**Were you disappointed that they did name you?**

I was. And now I know if I had to do it again, I know what to do different.******What would you do different?**

Well, all of my mannerisms. Fans under my comments, were like, "I could tell as soon as she put her hand up in the air. I could tell as soon as she opened her mouth." I would change my voice. I would do things different.**

Scarab on 'The Masked Singer'.

Trae Patton/FOX

**It was a stunning costume and seemed easier to maneuver than some of the bulkier creatures, but did you have any mishaps we didn't see?**

It was not comfortable singing under the mask. And I was getting nervous because I'm not really a singer. I *can* sing, but I don't put myself in the singing category. It's something that I do when I have to do it. So I was very nervous, because if I drop the lines, if I choke, I need to be able to see the teleprompter, it was a little stressful. The socks that they have your head in so if the mask moves, no one can see your skin's color, it's tight. I thought it was gonna be restrictive for me singing, but it wasn't, but it's not easy.

**Tiffany Haddish was revealed last week. Did you have any idea she was also competing this season?**

Not one idea. Not a clue.

**As they teased all season, you are one of the most decorated celebs we've seen on *The Masked Singer*. Have we moved past the mindset of being "too famous" to have some fun on reality TV?**

I don't think about it. I do what I wanna do. I do what moves me. I do what excites me and inspires me. I don't care what other people are doing or what the industry says is hot or not. I have a solid fanbase and they follow me wherever I go. So I think those days are over now because of social media.**

Tiffany Haddish reveals why she needed special underwear on 'The Masked Singer' — and kept flashing them

'The Masked Singer' season 14 reveals: See every celebrity eliminated so far

**Any friends or costars you already have in mind to convince to be on next?**

I don't know. I would have to think about that. Maybe I will try to convince Viola to do it since they kept naming her.**

Taraji P. Henson attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' 14th Annual Governors Awards.

Unique Nicole/FilmMagic

**So what's next for you that we can see your face fully out of a mask the whole time?**

Broadway. I'm doing *Joe Turner's Come and Gone* directed by Debbie Allen. It will be at the Barrymore Theatre. We open in April, so come check me out. Me, Cedric the Entertainer, Ruben Santiago-Hudson. It's gonna be good. I'm excited. And that's a 360 moment for me because, you know, Debbie Allen and I, and Phylicia Rashad, we have the HBCU ties at Howard University and I won the triple-threat scholarship. That's how I was able to finish college when I was pregnant. So this is a 360 moment for me and her.

**And Cedric the Entertainer, coming full circle, was Honey Pot on *The Masked Singer* last season!**

Wow, yeah. And we worked together before in the Tom Hanks movie, *Larry Crowne*. So it'll be good to play with him on the stage.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.***

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*The Masked Singer* airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.**

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