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Jussie Smollett is begging his "Empire" family to believe he's innocent and continue supporting him -- even as the drama of his arrest postponed a scene Thursday in Chicago. Sources on the "Empire" set tell us the cast and crew were waiting at least 30 minutes for Jussie to begin the scheduled scene. When he eventually showed his face he was very emotional, and surrounded by his family. We're told he addressed everyone on set, saying ..."I’m sorry I’ve put you all through this and not answered any calls. I wanted to say I’m sorry and, you know me, I...

Sen. Kamala Harris, who once labeled the Jussie Smollet attack claim an "attempted modern day lynching," spoke out on Thursday after Smollett was charged and arrested with disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report. The California lawmaker tweeted a statement expressing her sadness, frustration, and disappointment on the same day Smollett, who’s been released from jail, appeared before Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. “When anyone makes false claims to police, it not only diverts resources away from serious investigations but it makes it more difficult for other victims of crime to come forward,” Harris wrote.

Moments after Chicago cops laid out their case against Smollett, the CNN pundit made the eyebrow-raising comparison during a conversation with anchor Kate Bolduan. “This is the fall of an icon and I don’t think people understand how important he has been in the black community. ‘Empire’ as a show, to have him as a beloved character, I think did a great deal to knock back homophobia in the black community,” Jones said. “The fact that he has been celebrated and you see homophobia in the black community through his eyes on the show, this is a Jackie Robinson against...

...Jussie Smollett arrested and faces a felony charge for allegedly filing false police report...

Defiant Jussie Smollet says he will FIGHT the false police report charges over 'staged' attack - as Empire producers consider suspending him, after security footage emerged of the Nigerian brothers buying ski masks Jussie Smollett, 36, was criminally charged on Wednesday night in Chicago He is charged with filing a false police report, a Class 4 felony Police say that he hoaxed a hate crime assault on himself on January 29 His attorneys say he 'enjoys the presumption of innocence' and will fight charge Empire's producers are reportedly considering removing Smollett from TV show Brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo were...

Booking photo WNDU ‏Verified account @WNDU 2m2 minutes ago BREAKING: Chicago police just released the jail booking photo for Jussie Smollett, the "Empire" actor accused of making a false police report when he said he was attacked by two men who hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and looped a rope around his neck.

A press conference will be held at Chicago PD headquarters at 9 am CT (10 am ET / 7 am PT), where Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Commander of Area Central Detectives Edward Wodnicki will brief reporters on the investigation prior to Smollett’s appearance in court. Link

about attack in Streeterville Jussie Smollett Jussie Smollett participates in an "Empire" panel during the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Aug. 8, 2017. (Willy Sanjuan/AP) Jeremy Gorner, Megan Crepeau, William Lee, Tracy SwartzChicago Tribune “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett has been charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report about an attack he said occurred as he walked to his apartment building in Streeterville last month. The charge, a felony, was announced by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office Wednesday evening, hours after police called Smollett “a suspect in a criminal investigation...