This feels like a slap to the face. Remember Roseanne had her entire show taken away from her for just a tweet.
Fox Broadcasting Company, the network that airs the hit drama Empire, will keep actor Jussie Smollett on as a series regular in wake of reports he staged an attack on himself in Chicago last month, according to a TMZ report.
TMZ reports:
Production sources tell TMZ … Jussie was supposed to have 9 scenes and a big musical number in the second to the last episode — which is being shot now — but, 5 of his scenes have been cut, and his musical number has been 86’d.
As for the remaining 4 scenes … we’re told he’s no longer the focus. The scene features an ensemble, meaning he’s flanked by a number of cast members.
With his duties pared down, Jussie will be spending way less time on set. Instead of working every day this week, we’re told Jussie’s working Friday and possibly Thursday, and he won’t be rehearsing.
The report comes amid reports that Smollett “concocted” a “staged attacked” against himself after receiving a racist letter addressed to him failed to evoke a “bigger reaction.”
“When the letter didn’t get enough attention, he concocted the staged attack,” a source told CBS 2’s Brad Edwards, who reported “other sources corroborated that information.”
A letter with “white powder” was sent January 22 to a Chicago set where Empire was filming in the days leading up to the alleged staged attack. Chicago police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed to CNN that a HAZMAT team was called to Cinespace Studios, where the program was being shot, after the letter was discovered.
The substance was determined to be powdered aspirin, Guglielmi said. TMZ previously reported Smollett had received a letter at Fox studios that said “Die Black fag.”
The FBI is reportedly investigating the letter.
A press representative of Smollett’s crisis management firm said Monday that the actor had no plans to meet with Chicago police after detectives obtained “new evidence” while interrogating two Nigerian brothers — Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo — said to have helped stage the attack.
On Saturday evening, CBS Chicago’s Charlie De Mar reported at least one of the brothers bought up the rope at Craft Beaver hardware store the weekend of January 25th. It was picked up at the direction of Smollett, said De Mar. The brothers reportedly were paid $3,500 and promised an additional $500.
Smollett, who is gay and African-American, told police that two masked individuals spewed racist and anti-gay slurs at him and poured an unknown chemical substance as he walked home from a sandwich shop at around 2:00 a.m. local time. The actor claimed his attackers looped a rope around his neck and screamed “This is MAGA country!” before fleeing the scene.
In a statement to ABC News, attorneys for the Smollett said the actor was “angered” and “further victimized” by claims that staged his own attack.
“As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with,” Smollett’s lawyers, Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson, said. “He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.”
“One of these purported suspects was Jussie’s personal trainer who he hired to ready him physically for a music video,” the pair continued. “It is impossible to believe that this person could have played a role in the crime against Jussie or would falsely claim Jussie’s complicity.
On Sunday, Empire executive producer Brett Mahoney reiterated his support for Smollett.
Smollett, under Illinois State law, could receive up to three years in jail if he is found to have filed a false report with police.
Unbelievable! Hollywood is plagued with hypocrites. Jussie Smollett is himself a racist for this sham. At the very least he should lose his job. He had better get jail time for his actions along with his manager if he himself is involved. What lowlifes! Lastly all those crooked politicians who were quick to blame Trump, should apologize for their hate vitriol.
For what? Getting the country back on track?
If the network doesn’t fire him, they will thus lose viewers!!!
MAYBE HE’LL PERFORM IN PRISON. I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS, IF HE WERE WHITE, HE WOULD GO TO PRISON FOR HIS CRIMES.
If he in fact staged this fake attack he will be in more trouble than Roseanne could ever dream of.
Roseanne was a Trump supporter, this little Jerk is a DEMO-RAT….
Roseanne is a Trump supporter, this Jerk is a Demo-rat…
Hollywood is full of scum sucking pigs
When these hoaxers finally get meaningfully prosecuted for the costs (police and court time), the damage to the real victims and potential retaliatory attacks on others, there’ll be many, many less hoaxes that damage left/right relations in this divided country.
Smollett should be fined 10 times the cost of investigating his FRAUB both the HOAX ATTACK and HIS HOAX racist letter. He should then be banned from acting for life at all levels. That means he cannot have anything to do with movies, tv or even a child’s School play. No part even means as a director or money provider. Producer is also off limits. In FACT he should not even be allowed to be a janitor of any place that has work with the media in any way. When I say Media I mean any part of anything to do with MOVIES, TV, or even news.
I knew it! There is just something about these stories that I know when these people are lying. I said from the very beginning that Susan Smith was lying, as well. This man is so full of hate that he’s dangerous.
Well what would you expect .Hollywood is just like he is . Makes up lies and attacks innocent people ! For what ? It just turns people away . I threw my tv out and have never watched another movie . I will not spend my hard earned money on those who are out to take my freedoms and my rights away .
There is no duplicate . You just didn’t put it down Well what would you expect .Hollywood is just like he is . Makes up lies and attacks innocent people ! For what ? It just turns people away . I threw my tv out and have never watched another movie . I will not spend my hard earned money on those who are out to take my freedoms and my rights away .
I read about 4-5 weeks ago that the Chair person of the LGBTQ GROUP feels they all of them Must Always be in the faces and the news and spotlite. They have come so far they can’t stop.
This guy has done just that.
Total Idiot as is everyone who gave him coverage even the Lesbian on TV who interviewed him.
All of they follow orders about face time.
Why didnt police confiscate his phone to begin with? He got something to hide …….we can smell it Smollett.
Pretty sad when the liberal powers that be, wont just fire this douche-bag outright. If he were conservative, and you know this is truth, and he pulled anything even 1/32 of this level, they would have hung him out to dry, he would be harassed anywhere he went, and he would be on EVERY media outlet 24/7. And the walk-backs by outlets such as cnn are more reminders of just how corrupt juvenile and unable they are to take responsibility for jumping on the bandwagon, which no matter how much they bleat..they did in fact report it erroneously.
Build the Wall!!
I will predict yes. He is Black, gay, actor and Democrat.
Black,Gay,and Liberal. He will keep his job and get a raise. America must stand up and fight back against socialism from the liberal left.