Fox cuts Smollett's character from 'Empire' after arrest

[rooster59]

Fox cuts Smollett's character from 'Empire' after arrest

By Gina Cherelus

 

FILE PHOTO: Jussie Smollett exits Cook County Department of Corrections after posting bail in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Lott/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - Fox is cutting Jussie Smollett's character from its popular hip-hop drama "Empire" after the actor was arrested and accused of staging a hoax hate crime attack on himself, show officials said on Friday.

 

The move came a day after the 36-year-old was charged with lying to Chicago police about the allegedly staged incident, in which he said two masked men beat him and slung a noose around his neck while yelling racist and homophobic abuse.

 

Smollett's character, Jamal Lyon, will be removed from the final two episodes of the current season of Empire, according to 20th Century Fox Television, which said it wanted to avoid "further disruption" on the set of the show.

 

Smollett faces up to three years in prison if convicted in the case, which has become fodder for the culture wars that have roiled the United States since Donald Trump's 2016 election.

 

"The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us," Empire's co-creators and producers said in a statement. "While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out."

 

Lawyers for Smollett did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. On Wednesday, they said they were conducting a thorough investigation to form an aggressive defence.

 

According to court documents, the black and openly gay actor wrote a personal check for $3,500 to two brother and gave them $100 to buy the rope, ski masks, gloves and red baseball caps that were used in the supposed attack on Jan. 29.

 

Police said Smollett hoped the incident would advance his career and secure him a higher salary.

 

Detectives interviewed more than 100 people, reviewed footage from more than 55 surveillance cameras, and executed more than 50 search warrants during the investigation. Officials did not spell out how Smollett had hoped to boost his salary by staging such a hoax.

 

ACTOR OUT ON BAIL

 

A judge set bail at $100,000 on Thursday and ordered Smollett to surrender his passport. He was released after paying 10 percent of the bail amount as stipulated by the judge.

 

According to an unnamed source cited by CNN, Smollett apologised to the cast and crew on the set of Empire late on Thursday, but maintained that he is innocent.

 

While Smollett initially received an outpouring of support on social media from fans, celebrities and some politicians, others were sceptical about the attack, which he said took place outside his Chicago apartment at 2 a.m. on a frigid night.

 

Among those who supported the actor were Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand.

On Thursday, Harris said in a statement she was "sad, frustrated and disappointed" by the latest reports. Gillibrand said she will wait to find out the facts before making another statement.

 

In his account, the actor said his attackers also shouted "This is MAGA country," referring to Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

 

Trump initially described the alleged attack on Smollett as "horrible." After the actor was charged on Thursday, Trump tweeted at him: "(W)hat about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!?"

 

The president's critics have said his rhetoric has fuelled racism and violence, while his supporters say the press has unfairly cast Trump and his supporters in a bad light.

 

The Walt Disney Co secured a $71 billion deal in July to acquire 21st Century Fox Inc's film and television assets, which means "Empire" will belong to the production company.

 

Disney still needs the deal to be approved by more than a dozen countries, including China, Russia and regulators from the European Union.

 

A Disney representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations against Smollett.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-23

[Nyezhov]

Dude needs some psychiatric help.

[Orton Rd]

They have psychiatrists in prison, that's where he will be going

[tlandtday]

23 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Dude needs some psychiatric help.

no question is irresponsible and delusional needs to be institutionalized after being jailed:)

[Nyezhov]

12 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

They have psychiatrists in prison, that's where he will be going

He wont get more than a few months.....

[Boon Mee]

 He might escape jail time entirely by claiming drug addiction and then spend time in a dry-out facility 

[Orton Rd]

27 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

 He might escape jail time entirely by claiming drug addiction and then spend time in a dry-out facility 

Yes it's been mentioned by his team, expect metal stress and sexually abused as a child as well. What he did was disgusting enough, not being able to man up and apologise and admit it just compounds his offences. Typical SJW crying hate, oppression and racism when that was all coming from him and nobody else. This sad excuse for a human being could not even bring himself to say the Presidents name, referring to him only as a number. Well he will be getting a number as well- in jail.

[JimmyJ]

American corporate media is analyzing and discussing this as if it is the Kennedy assassination.

 

Clicks, ratings, and distraction.

 

[tlandtday]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

 He might escape jail time entirely by claiming drug addiction and then spend time in a dry-out facility 

nothing would surprise me with this loser

[tlandtday]

36 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Yes it's been mentioned by his team, expect metal stress and sexually abused as a child as well. What he did was disgusting enough, not being able to man up and apologise and admit it just compounds his offences. Typical SJW crying hate, oppression and racism when that was all coming from him and nobody else. This sad excuse for a human being could not even bring himself to say the Presidents name, referring to him only as a number. Well he will be getting a number as well- in jail.

No expect him to continue to play the victim as he talks about how Trump needed to be stopped and it was the only action he felt he could take to awake the masses or some bs like it when in fact it was probably a cold calculated move to reignite a failing career.  This little primadona deserves jail time but will like be embraced by the bought off mainstream media.  Expect well paid interviews etc. in the near term and some lead roles in film or television after his suspended sentence.

[tifino]

be well suited as a new South Park character!

 

akin to; joining the chorus -  'they took our jerbs!" 

 

akin to Mr Marsh going on the take down Columbus warpath episode...

[Orton Rd]

This is quite good

 

 

[TopDeadSenter]

As a MAGA fan, white male and victim of Smollett's hate crime I feel entitled to a reparation payment. Since being racially abused by this scumbag I have had sleepless nights, difficulty eating and suffered anxiety. I have emailed CNN's Don Lemon and other Smollett team-mates trying to lodge an official request for reparation payments. Maybe we should all do it. He will wish he was in prison!

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

As a MAGA fan, white male and victim of Smollett's hate crime I feel entitled to a reparation payment. Since being racially abused by this scumbag I have had sleepless nights, difficulty eating and suffered anxiety. I have emailed CNN's Don Lemon and other Smollett team-mates trying to lodge an official request for reparation payments. Maybe we should all do it. He will wish he was in prison!

With a post like that, you really didn't need to tell us you're a maga fan. There is no excuse for Smollett's alleged hoax and there is also no excuse for divisive maga style trolling, but I get it, "dear leader" encourages it. 

[Jingthing]

15 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

They have psychiatrists in prison, that's where he will be going

I actually doubt that they do unless they're graduates of the Granada School of Psychiatry and Bartending. 

[Jingthing]

Icky news!

 

 

 

[adam1948]

11 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

As a MAGA fan, white male and victim of Smollett's hate crime I feel entitled to a reparation payment. Since being racially abused by this scumbag I have had sleepless nights, difficulty eating and suffered anxiety. I have emailed CNN's Don Lemon and other Smollett team-mates trying to lodge an official request for reparation payments. Maybe we should all do it. He will wish he was in prison!

Not sure how many will agree with you but I'm 100% with you. As a White Heterosexual Male(WHM) I would feel very much in danger living in USA at the present time ... And the irony is Thai Immigration has launched a program to send hundreds if not thousands of us back to USA ... We are living in some very bizarre, weird time(s) in history. I guess it's the WHM's turn in the barrel