Jussie Smollett Archives

Approximately a month after FOX renewed Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's music industry drama Empire for a sixth and final season, Daniels is finally putting to rest rumors that controversial cast member Jussie Smollett's character Jamal Lyon would join the series' final run Taking to Twitter on Tuesday to respond to a Variety article that reported show[...]

FOX has officially renewed Empire for a sixth season; though based on the statement released by Fox Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television, it will most likely be without embattled star Jussie Smollett It should be noted that Smollett's option for a new season was also picked up, which means he would be available for[...]

While the fallout from Empire star Jussie Smollett's legal battles with the City of Chicago are still being played out in the courtroom, on the airwaves, and on social media, one person who is opening up and speaking out is his FOX drama series co-star Taraji P Henson Visiting ABC's The View on Thursday to promote[...]

In a move that has already set social media aflame once again, Chicago prosecutors have dropped all charges against Empire star Jussie Smollett Arrving to a Chicago courtroom early Tuesday morning for an emergency meeting, after which it was learned that all 16 felony counts were being dropped and that his "record has been wiped[...]

Less than a week after the Empire actor/singer was indicted on 16 counts of disorderly conduct, Jussie Smollett appeared before Cook County trial Judge Steven Watkins on Thursday morning to plead (though attorney Tina Glandian) "not guily" to all counts Currently out on $100,000 bail, Smollett could face more than three years in jail and[...]

Less than 24 hours after Empire actor Jussie Smollett was released on $100,000 bond after being arrested Thursday morning on multiple felony charges stemming from an alleged assault in late January 2019, the executive producers of the popular FOX series have made the decision to remove his character Jamal from the remainder of the series'[...]

UPDATE: Empire actor Jussie Smollett was released on $100,000 bond after a court hearing on Thursday, after being arrested this morning on multiple felony charges stemming from an alleged assault in late January 2019 During the hearing, a series of texts between the actor/singer and siblings Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo showing how the attack was planned were read[...]

According to Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, Empire star Jussie Smollett staged his own "assault" because he was "dissatisfied with his salary" and looking for better positioning on the FOX drama series During a Thursday morning press conference, Johnson also revealed that Smollett paid brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo $3,500 (by check) to particpate in the fake[...]

Empire star Jussie Smollett is under arrest and currently in the custody of of Chicago police detectives, with Chicago PD Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi confirming the actor/singer's arrest Thursday morning The arrest comes less than 12 hours after Smollett was formally charged with federal disorderly conduct for allegedly "filing a false police report (Class 4 felony)." EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda[...]

Only hours after Chicago Police Department Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi announced that Empire star Jussie Smollett had been "officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation" for allegedly "filing a false police report (Class 4 felony)," the actor/singer has been formally charged with federal disorderly conduct This legal turn of events comes on the[...]

Chicago Police Department Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to announce that Empire star Jussie Smollett has been "officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation" for allegedly "filing a false police report (Class 4 felony)." The Chicago PD also stated that investigating detectives were in the process of "presenting evidence[...]

Responding to CNN reporting late Saturday night from that actor/singer Jussie Smollett either arranged or played a planning role in his assault and was now the focus of Chicago Police's investigation, the Empire star's defense lawyers Todd S Pugh and Victor P Henderson pushed back on behalf of their client with the following statement: EMPIRE: Pictured[...]

Henderson and Todd Pugh. The investigation into the alleged assault on Empire star Jussie Smollett has possibly taken an unexpected turn on Saturday, with CNN reporting that two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation have informed the news organization that Chicago Police believe Smollett orchestrated his attack. EMPIRE: Pictured L-R: Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon and Jussie[...]

Less than 48 hours after the actor/singer was hopitalized following an assault in Chicago that law enforcement has described as a "possible hate crime," Empire star Jussie Smollett released a statement exclusively to ESSENCE, thanking the "beautiful people" for their support and assuring fans that he is currently recovering. FOX "Let me start by saying that I'm OK[...]

Less than 48 hours after Empire star Jussie Smollett was hopitalized following an assault in Chicago that law enforcement is describing as a "possible hate crime," the Smollett family and Underground's Jurnee Smollett-Bell have released a statement condemning the attack, the perpetrators, and similar hate crimes (see below). The Chicago Police Department confirmed that in the early hours of January[...]

On Tuesday morning, Empire star Jussie Smollett was hopitalized following an assault in Chicago that law enforcement is describing as a possible hate crime In a statement released by the Chicago Police Department, Smollett was beaten by two males who approached him while yelling "racial and homophobic slurs" at around 2 a.m Tuesday morning in[...]