'Empire' Producers Cut Smollett From Season's Last Episodes
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
February 22, 2019
Share
CHICAGO — Actor Jussie Smollett’s character on “Empire” will be removed from the final two episodes of this season in the wake of his arrest on charges that he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself last month in downtown Chicago, producers of the Fox TV show announced Friday.
“We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season.” — statement from “Empire” producers
The announcement came a day after Smollett turned himself in to police, appeared in court on a felony charge of disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report, and left jail after posting bond.“While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays,” ”Empire” executive producers Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brett Mahoney, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo and Dennis Hammer said in a written statement. “We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season.”
Smollett, who is black and gay, plays a gay character on the show that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry.
Police said Smollett planned the hoax because he was unhappy with his salary and wanted to promote his career. Before the attack, he also sent a letter that threatened him to the Chicago studio where “Empire” is shot, police said.
As authorities laid out their case against Smollett, the narrative that emerged Thursday sounded like that of a filmmaker who wrote, cast, directed and starred in a short movie.
Smollett Earning More Than $100,000 per Episode
Prosecutors said Smollett gave detailed instructions to the accomplices who helped him stage the attack in January, including telling them specific slurs to yell, urging them to shout “MAGA country” and even pointing out a surveillance camera that he thought would record the beating.
“I believe Mr. Smollett wanted it on camera. But unfortunately that particular camera wasn’t pointed in that direction.” — Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson
“I believe Mr. Smollett wanted it on camera,” police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters at a Thursday morning news conference. “But unfortunately that particular camera wasn’t pointed in that direction.”Smollett’s legal team issued a statement Thursday night, calling the actor a “man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence.” The statement called Johnson’s news conference “an organized law enforcement spectacle.”
“The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett,” the statement read.
Smollett is earning more than $100,000 per episode, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because salary details were involved. The studio declined to comment on the actor’s salary.
As is customary with a successful TV series, regular cast members on “Empire” received a boost in pay as part of contract extensions that followed the drama’s renewal for a second season, the person said.
Smollett is counted among the series regulars.
Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules
Politics /
6 hours ago
Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?
Sports /
6 hours ago
Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win
Sports /
7 hours ago
Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’
Sports /
7 hours ago
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1
Sports /
8 hours ago
The 49ers Add Florida Receiver Ricky Pearsall With the 30th Draft Pick
Sports /
8 hours ago
Political Stunt, Egg on His Face, Personal Vendetta. Who’s Fresno DA Talking About?
Politics /
8 hours ago
Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error
A mistake by the city of Fresno in the process to approve residential garbage rates will delay a vote.
When a city government proposes rate ...
Politics /
5 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos
Politics /
5 hours ago
Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error
Politics /
5 hours ago
Trump’s Potential VP Pick Boasts About Executing Puppy
Opinion /
6 hours ago
Trita Parsi: Blind Support for Israel Erodes Western Democracies
Politics /
6 hours ago
Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules
Sports /
6 hours ago
Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?
Sports /
7 hours ago
Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win
Sports /
7 hours ago