Jussie Smollett’s final episode of “Empire” airs Wednesday – at least for this season – but the embattled actor’s co-stars are trying to make sure it won’t be his last appearance on the Fox drama (8 EDT/PDT).
The wedding of Smollett’s character, Jamal, and Kai (Toby Onwumere) is a centerpiece of Wednesday’s installment, but the actor’s future on the series remains clouded even after criminal charges filed against him in connection to his report of a racist, homophobic assault were dropped.
Fox wrote Smollett out of the season’s final two episodes, scheduled to air May 1 and 8, after he was arrested and charged with filing a false police report in connection with a January incident that Chicago law-enforcement authorities said was a hoax. The county prosecutor dropped those charges in March, citing Smollett’s volunteer service and bond forfeiture as “just disposition” of the case.
More: Jussie Smollett case timeline: Charges dropped against actor who went from victim to suspect
More: ‘Empire’ creator Lee Daniels sends support to Jussie Smollett: ‘He is my son’
Deadline Wednesday reported it had obtained a letter from Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard and other “Empire” stars urging Fox and studio executives to reinstatethe actor for an expected sixth season next fall.
“Together, as a united front, we stand with Jussie Smollett and ask that our co-star, brother and friend be brought back for our sixth season of Empire,” the actors said in an April 19 letter.
During an appearance on Fox’s “Good Day New York” Wednesday, Daniels said Smollett’s “Empire” future is “in discussions.” And in an interview this week with “Extra,” Daniels said he felt compassion for Smollett.
“I think that what I’m learning right now is that I can’t judge,” he said. “I can only support him because he is like my son. He is my son, and so I’m with him. So I can only support him and I can only give him compassion.”
As for Jamal’s wedding, don’t expect that to come off without a hitch. According to Fox’s description of the episode, “It’s a special day for Jamal and Kai, but drama might ruin it when (prosecutor) Meghan Conway (Alicia Coppola) continues to pursue the Lyons by any means necessary.”
