‘Empire’ Director Says Jussie Smollett ‘Will NOT Be Returning’ After Alleged Attack
Jun. 5 2019, Published 4:29 p.m. ET
Jussie Smollett will not be returning to Empire despite conflicting reports regarding his alleged attack.
Show director Lee Daniels confirmed on Twitter this Tuesday, June 4, that the controversial actor will not be back for the sixth and final season.
Responding to a post claiming Empire writers were getting ready for Smollett’s return, Daniels, 59, wrote, “This is not factual. Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire.”
RadarOnline.com readers know the news comes three months after Smollett, 36, alleged he was attacked on a Chicago street by two masked men who called him racist and homophobic slurs. Police failed to find evidence of the crime and later charged him with filing a false police report.
Plus, the alleged attackers turned out to be two of Smollett’s Empire co-stars, who claimed Smollett hired them to stage the attack.
The charges against Smollett were dropped this March with little explanation and this April, the cast wrote a joint letter to show execs pleading for Smollett’s return.