Jussie Smollett‘s career onEmpireis officially over.During Fox’s Television Critics Association tour on Wednesday, Charlie Collier, the network’s CEO, confirmed that fans shouldn’t expect to see Smollett, 37, return for the show’s final season, which premieres next month.“We as much as anything in case like this, you try to get all the information and make a good decision,” Collier explained. “[Creator Lee Daniels] is right, there’s no plans for Jussie to return toEmpire… typically it’s about gathering right info and making sure we’re making the right decisions.”Smollett, who has played musician Jamal Lyon since the beginning, wasindicted in March with 16 counts of disorderly conductforallegedly filing a false reportclaimingtwo men attacked himin an alleged homophobic and racist hate crime in Chicago.He pleaded not guilty to allegations that he lied to police, and all charges against him weresuddenly dropped at the end of March. He has always denied any wrongdoing.Jussie Smollett.Getty ImagesIn June, Daniels said that Smollettwould not returnforEmpire’sfinal season, revealing the scandal played into the decision to end the show after season 6.Daniels also said he was “beyond embarrassed” for initially supporting the actor’s claims that he was a victim of the alleged hate crime.“If it turned out that [Smollett] did it, was guilty, and all of it’s accurate, then it will feel like a betrayal,” Daniels toldVulture.After the case shifted against Smollett, hisEmpirestars were left not knowing what to believe. In April, Daniels toldExtrathat, “the cast is upset. It is a sad time and we are slowly healing.”Jussie Smollett outside a Chicago courthouse on Thursday.Matt Marton/AP/ShutterstockHowever, Daniels did note that he wouldcontinue to supportSmollett, and that “the lesson is still to be learned” from the incident.“What I am learning right now is that I can’t judge. That that judgement is for that man wearing that black coat with a gavel and God. I can only support him because he is like my son, he is my son, so I am with him,” he said.Although the Fox drama is nearing its final curtain call, DanielstoldVulturethat he was leaving the door open to possibly continueEmpirein the future.“We’re trying something out, and if it works, thenEmpireis over and we have a great spinoff,” he said. “And if it doesn’t, thenEmpiremay not very well be over. But the intent is to have our last season with a great spinoff.”Empire’ssixth and final season will premiere on Sept. 24 (9 p.m. ET) on Fox
Jussie Smollett‘s career onEmpireis officially over.
During Fox’s Television Critics Association tour on Wednesday, Charlie Collier, the network’s CEO, confirmed that fans shouldn’t expect to see Smollett, 37, return for the show’s final season, which premieres next month.
“We as much as anything in case like this, you try to get all the information and make a good decision,” Collier explained. “[Creator Lee Daniels] is right, there’s no plans for Jussie to return toEmpire… typically it’s about gathering right info and making sure we’re making the right decisions.”
Smollett, who has played musician Jamal Lyon since the beginning, wasindicted in March with 16 counts of disorderly conductforallegedly filing a false reportclaimingtwo men attacked himin an alleged homophobic and racist hate crime in Chicago.
He pleaded not guilty to allegations that he lied to police, and all charges against him weresuddenly dropped at the end of March. He has always denied any wrongdoing.
Jussie Smollett.Getty Images
In June, Daniels said that Smollettwould not returnforEmpire’sfinal season, revealing the scandal played into the decision to end the show after season 6.
Daniels also said he was “beyond embarrassed” for initially supporting the actor’s claims that he was a victim of the alleged hate crime.
“If it turned out that [Smollett] did it, was guilty, and all of it’s accurate, then it will feel like a betrayal,” Daniels toldVulture.
After the case shifted against Smollett, hisEmpirestars were left not knowing what to believe. In April, Daniels toldExtrathat, “the cast is upset. It is a sad time and we are slowly healing.”
Jussie Smollett outside a Chicago courthouse on Thursday.Matt Marton/AP/Shutterstock
However, Daniels did note that he wouldcontinue to supportSmollett, and that “the lesson is still to be learned” from the incident.
“What I am learning right now is that I can’t judge. That that judgement is for that man wearing that black coat with a gavel and God. I can only support him because he is like my son, he is my son, so I am with him,” he said.
Although the Fox drama is nearing its final curtain call, DanielstoldVulturethat he was leaving the door open to possibly continueEmpirein the future.
“We’re trying something out, and if it works, thenEmpireis over and we have a great spinoff,” he said. “And if it doesn’t, thenEmpiremay not very well be over. But the intent is to have our last season with a great spinoff.”
Empire’ssixth and final season will premiere on Sept. 24 (9 p.m. ET) on Fox
source: people.com
