Jussie Smollett cut off "Empire" episodes as attack probe continues



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While the Chicago police investigation of what really happened to Jussie Smollett during the presumed assault last month is intensifying his focus on the Empire actor, the drama of the Fox cuts the artist of the action.

Deadline confirmed by well-placed sources that Smollett's scenes in the episodes of the series co-created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong were being removed for production on Empire this week.

While the show is back to work in Windy City after the long weekend, Smollett will be a rare presence on the set of the show directed by Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard.

The actor was also missing because Chicago PD asks for another interview with him. While Smollett himself is now the subject of further investigation into the alleged assault that occurred in the early hours of January 29, detectives want to know more about the version of the Actor on what happened that day on the streets of Chicago and on all the possible knowledge that he might have. to indicate that the incident could have been planned in advance.

The widely condemned attack had previously been described as a racist and homophobic barrage leaving Smollett beaten, dipped in bleach and with a rope tied to his neck. Openly gay, Smollett portrays Jamal Lyon openly gay on Empire.

Now the reality seems to be more complex or at least convoluted.

It is not planned at this time to make any changes to the last episodes of the fifth season of Empire who are already in the box, I hear.

However, despite the renewed support expressed forcefully by Empire Showrunner Brett Mahoney on February 17, the upcoming episodes have been seriously rewritten in recent days to reduce Smollett's increasingly beleaguered role in dramatic roles and musical performances.

Empire returns for the rest of his fifth season on March 13th.

Fox did not comment on Smollett's scenes being cut, nor did the network confirm this information, as TMZ noted earlier on Tuesday. The representatives of the law firm Smollett did not return the request for comment by Deadline.

Although Smollett is not currently considered an official suspect, prosecutors and law enforcement officials seek to be enlightened by him about his private relationship with Olabinjo and Abimbola. Osundairo.

Chicago police had previously described the brothers as "potential suspects" in the attack and arrested them last week. Identified as people in the photos of "people of interest" in the Smollett case, both were detained without charge for 48 hours and released on the night of February 15.

Formerly Empire Osundario's brothers and sisters, at least one of whom had been Smollett's personal trainer, now cooperate "fully" with the authorities. They have had several interviews with the police in recent days.

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