Posted on 02/22/2019 7:59:18 AM PST by Red Badger
One day after Jussie Smollett was arrested on multiple felony charges for the alleged racist and homophobic attack of last month, the producers of Empire have cut the actor from the rest of the show’s fifth season
“The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us,” said EPs Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brett Mahoney, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo and Dennis Hammer this morning.
“Jussie has been an important member of our Empire family for the past five years and we care about him deeply,” the producers added. “While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out. 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.”
With just a couple of episodes left to be completed in the current season of Empire, producer and writers on the Mahoney showrun series had already cut or trimmed a number of Smollett’s remaining scenes so today’s move isn’t a seismic shift in that sense. However, when you consider that
Facing a barrage of criticism from openly “pissed” off law enforcement officials, prosecutors and TV talking heads, Smollett was released on $100,000 bail and had his passport revoked during the downtown Chicago court appearance Thursday.
At that pretty conclusive and damning hearing on claims that Smollett’s pre-planned the January 29 attack that attracted so much outrage from the likes of Empire co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, the actor’s defense lawyers oddly insisted that Smollett needed to get back to work on Empire, which was continuing production.
In fact, after a couple of hours in the Cook County detention center Smollett went straight to the nearby set of the series. That reunion of sorts was tense and “very stressful for everyone,” a well placed source tells me as the actor met with various creatives and cast members of the Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard led Empire.
Similar to a statement that was released by his legal team on Thursday evening, Smollett proclaimed his “innocence” to the Empire team, but the powers-that-be already felt the situation was untenable.
Beyond the court case that could in theory see Smollett in jail for three years under the disorderly conduct and filing a false police report charges, the larger decision to come for Empire and Fox is if Smollett be a part of upcoming seasons guilty or acquitted. Like all original cast members, Smollett signed on for seven seasons of the show when Empire was being put together in 2014. Also like all cast members, the now $100,000 an episode actor received a significant pay raise after the blockbuster launch of Season 1.
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My prediction, as well.
He will be a martyr for the “cause”.
He will be a hero to his supporters.
I wonder if he’ll file a lawsuit over this?
You wonder about some people’s reasoning ability. He threw it all away. He earned close to $2 million a year as an actor. He reached the top of the acting world by being on a hit show and getting the big bucks for being on the show.
Life should have been so good for him, even if he’s a liberal idiot who buys into the talking points of America being racist sexist homophobic etc.
Hopefully he will have lots of time to ponder all this in prison.
The filthy bigot.
Is the Homophone Howler supposed to make President Trump look stupid?
She didn't send powder and a threatening note thru the US mail (a federal terrorism felony)
She didn't report a fake terrorism mail threat (2nd felony)
She didn't fake a hate crime (3rd felony)
She didn't report to police a faked hate crime (4th felony)
Jussie also continued his hoax for weeks, in interview after interview.
Rosanne deserves her job back. OR Jussie needs to never work again in show business.
Facing a barrage of criticism from openly “pissed” off law enforcement officials,
= = =
“He is being framed by these cops.” Is out there already.
And digging deeper, is the Police Chief in on this? Being openly angry, to aid the defense?
This IS Chicago.
He fed his ego to death.
RACIST! REEEEEEEEEEEEE
Like Bork he has become a verb.
And then he was arrested and the CPD laid it all out on the table..............................
Which leaves the door open for a return of the character after he completes whatever sentence is imposed.
My guess: 90 days in jail, suspended sentence, 3-5 years probation and a very large fine (50-100K), and likely community service.
When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
He’s still digging.....................
YOU’RE FIRED !
He could have hired illegals cheaper, and they would likely have done a better job.
OR
A ‘new’ Jamal......................
Too bad it is hard to say “Smolletted” because that is what fake hate crimes should be called.
Against whom? Himself?..................
For God’s sake, please correct the grammar in your meme!
SMH
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