Fox may have extended the Empire contract of Jussie Smollett in April, but the actor is definitely not returning for the last season of the series. That confirmed the boss of the American television station Wednesday.
“Jamal is still on his honeymoon”
After the announcement that the coming sixth season will be the last for Empire, rumors circulated that the discredited actor would be in any case the final episode of the drama. At the beginning of June, the creator of the Lee Daniels series already denied that on Twitter.
Smollett got sixteen charges in his pants in March for making a false declaration. He previously claimed that he had fallen victim to a racist, homophobic attack. The actor has always maintained his innocence. The charges were withdrawn after a few weeks, according to the Chicago prosecutor because Smollett would probably not receive a longer sentence than the custody he served and the community service that he volunteered.
During the fall presentation of the channel, Fox also announced how the absence of the character of the actor, Jamal Lyon, is explained in the final season of the show. “Jamal is still on his honeymoon. And he is working on a number of projects abroad. It is a very realistic storyline,” said a spokesperson for the channel opposite The Wrap.