“Empire” Creator Lee Daniels Talks Jussie Smollett’s Return To The Show: ”We’re In Conversations Right Now”

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Jussie Smollett’s alleged hate crime attack, which he was accused of faking and falsely reporting, many are concerned about the fate of his beloved character on the hit show, “Empire.” 

Back in January, Smollett claimed to be a victim of a brutal anti-gay, racist hate crime attack, in which the assailants allegedly beat him, hollered racial slurs and tied a noose around his neck. After an investigation into Smollett’s claims, Chicago police identified the attackers as the Osundairo brothers, who in turn spilled the tea on Smollett’s alleged plot. 

From there, officials directed their attention to Smollett, which then led to charges for filing a false report. However, as the case gained widespread notoriety and officials detailed their allegations and evidence against Smollett, Chicago prosecutors dropped the charges. 

Although the decision caught most by surprise, some believed it served as an exoneration. However, after the decision, prosecutors made it clear that they believed Smollett did, in fact, lie to the police but said the dismissal of charges was a regular practice for such a petty crime. 

But now, as tensions loom over the entire ordeal, “Empire” creator Lee Daniels is opening up about Smollett’s future with the show. 

“That’s the conversation that we’re having right now,” Daniels said, suggesting that the decision is not necessarily set in stone. “We’re in conversation right now.” 

“I feel that there are two judges,” he added when asked his thoughts on the situation. “God and that man in the robe. So I can’t judge.” 

Elsewhere in the interview, Daniels opened up about the positive effects of the new age of technology, and how it helps connect content creators with the powers that be.

“I think we’re in a new age right now,” Daniels said. “Everybody is able to, through Youtube and through the internet to get their stuff out. I find a lot of stuff on the internet.”

Check out the full interview below: