Despite the Rumors, Jussie Smollett Will Not Be Returning to Empire

2 Min Read
Jussie Smollett Booking Photo
Photo by Chicago Police Department via Getty Images

When news broke about Jussie Smollett‘s alleged attack, he received an outpour of support until police flipped the script and said they believe Smollett staged the whole thing.

They even allege that his motive was to increase his celebrity profile. That clearly didn’t work out for him and many believed that there wouldn’t be a chance his career would be able to be revamped.

Variety reported that the writers for the show are plotting on Smollett’s character’s return to Empire with an expectation that he’ll be back towards the second half of the season.

Jussie Smollett in Court
Photo by E. Jason Wambsgans / POOL / AFP / Getty Images

Well, show creator Lee Daniels made it crystal clear that it is not happening.

“This is not factual,” Daniels tweeted. “Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire.

Jussie Smollett, who has played Lucious’ musician son Jamal since Empire debuted in 2015, was written out of the final episodes of Season 5.

Jussie Smollett Returns To Court To Enter Formal Plea
Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

When the show was renewed for Season 6, the network extended his contract but said there were “no plans” to bring him back.

Smollett’s final Empire episode saw Jamal get married to Kai, but didn’t definitively write off the character.

Jussie Smollett Returns To Court To Enter Formal Plea
Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

Empire returns for its sixth and final season Tuesdays this fall on Fox.


  • Suri Cruise Legally Changed Her Name to Suri Noelle, Voter Rolls Reveal [Celebitchy]
  • The Agony and the Ecstasy of Lorenzo Musetti [Kenneth in the 212]
  • Hunter Schafer Is the Next Celeb to Try the Marc Jacobs Saran-Wrap Collection [Go Fug Yourself]
  • Jane Fonda Q&As Rashad Robinson on His 'From Presence to Power' in NYC [Boy Culture]
  • Trump Asks Supreme Court to Allow New Limits on Mail-In Voting [The Randy Report]
  • Sam Smith and the “Gentle Revolution” of “My Guy” [Greg in Hollywood]