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It seems that the days of Jussie Smollett on "Empire" are finished for good. After a report airing Tuesday afternoon suggesting that writers were preparing stories for the sixth and final season while Smollett should return for the second half of the 18 episodes, co-creator Lee Daniels quickly asked Twitter to dispel any speculation.
"It's not factual," wrote Daniels. "Jussie will not return to Empire."
Representatives of 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment declined to comment.
Daniels' tweet is the first indication that Smollett, who wrote the Fever Off-Season scandal, would not be back for the latest episodes of Fox's hip-hop drama.
Following the announcement of the April renewal, the door had been left open to a possible Smollett cameo.
At the time, there was "no project" for the return of the actor as Jamal Lyon, although the Smollett contract was extended for the option stay open.
"We were told that Jussie will not be on Empire at the beginning of the season, but he appreciates that they have extended his contract to keep Jamal's future open, "said Smollett's personal representative at ET at the time.
Asked in May if the status of a Smollett cameo had changed, with Empire ending after the following season, Fox Entertainment's head remained mom. "There is an option [for him to return]. [At] at this point, we have not planned this, "said Charlie Collier, CEO of Fox Entertainment.
Smollett, who played the second son of Lyonnais, had been eliminated from the last two episodes of season five after his arrest in February for allegedly filing a false police report in which he claimed to have been a victim of a crime motivated by hate.
All charges against Smollett have since been dropped, although the city of Chicago is seeking a reimbursement from the actor to cover more than $ 130,000 in investigative costs, which Smollett has refused. discover.
The Smollett bow while Jamal was apparently wrapped up in a pretty bow when he said "I want it" to his long-time love, the journalist Kai (Toby Onwumere), in front of the close family and friends. friends at a church wedding, in the third to last episode of season five. His parents, Lucious (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), took him to the alley. The absence of Jamal was briefly addressed in the final through an SMS sent to Cookie.
One source told ET that the culmination of Jamal's scenario was a creative priority for Smollett. "It's an episode that Jussie really defended with the writers and a story he's proud of," the source said.
The announcement of the likely end of Smollett Empire comes after the casting – led by Howard and Henson – sent a letter to Fox and Disney to urge them to reinstate Smollett for the sixth season.
"I'm talking to Jussie all the time, he's fine, we're all fine, the show is going well," said Henson at an appearance in April. View, saying at the time that Smollett is still part of the Empire family: "I did not hear anything else."
Now, it seems we have our answer.
This story originally appeared on ETOnline
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