Free Republic

“Empire” star Jussie Smollett is now charged with a felony following an attack that was allegedly staged. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed to “Extra” that Smollett has been charged with one count of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. He is due in court at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Jussie Smollett's "Empire" screen time is getting slashed in the wake of a growing sentiment that he staged the so-called "attack." 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 Smollett’s sisters, actresses and activists, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Jazz Smollett-Warwell, worked as leading campaign surrogates for former President Barack Obama, and less than a year ago, videos of Jussie dancing with Michelle Obama went viral. Jussie Smollett’s “hate crime” story that he was attacked by two men who shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him along with the phrase “This is MAGA country”, on Jan. 29, seems to be falling apart. According to his account, a strange chemical was thrown upon him and a rope was put around his neck. . “Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the...