Producers of the Fox sequence “Empire” have reduce actor Jussie Smollett from the ultimate two episodes of this season of “Empire.” The suspension follows Smollett (who performs Jamal Lyon) being charged with felony disorderly conduct and arrested after allegedly submitting a false police report about an assault that he mentioned befell in January.
In an announcement to the Blast, “Empire” producers (together with Lee Daniel and Danny Strong) mentioned the next:
The occasions of the previous few weeks have been extremely emotional for all of us. Jussie has been an vital member of our EMPIRE household for the previous 5 years and we care about him deeply. While these allegations are very disturbing, we’re inserting our belief within the authorized system as the method performs out. We are additionally conscious of the consequences of this course of on the solid and crew members who work on our present and to keep away from additional disruption on set, we’ve got determined to take away the function of ‘Jamal’ from the ultimate two episodes of the season.
The alleged attack on Smollett reportedly occurred January 29. Smollett claimed that two males known as him homophobic and racist slurs, put a rope round his neck, poured bleach on him, and yelled “this is MAGA country” earlier than leaving the scene. Shortly after particulars of the alleged assault had been made public, Lee Daniel posted a video in solidarity with Smollett, saying, “You didn’t deserve, nor [does] anybody deserve, to have a noose put around your neck, to have bleach thrown on you… You are better than that. We are better than that, America is better than that.”
After Smollett gained widespread assist from the general public and made an look on “Good Morning America” to debate the alleged assault, two males (recognized as brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo) had been arrested and questioned by Chicago Police in reference to the incident. As it turned out, one of many Osundairos had appeared as an additional on “Empire.” After a interval of interrogation, each males had been launched from police custody on Friday, February 15 without criminal charges. Following their launch, Chicago Police introduced that Smollett was a suspect in a legal investigation for submitting a false police report. CBS Chicago subsequently shared video footage that confirmed the Osundairos buying ski masks, crimson hats, and different objects days earlier than the alleged assault. Smollett was later indicted and arrested on fees of submitting a false police report.
Following the costs, Smollett’s attorneys launched this assertion: “Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked. Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense.” During a press convention following the arrest, Chicago PD claimed Smollett paid the Osundairo brothers to stage the assault on him, and known as for him to problem a public apology.
Source
