Quickies: Lee Daniels says working on Empire was “absolutely the worst experience,” plus JonBenét Ramsey, Clive Owen, Melissa McCarthy, Benny Blanco news and more

Lee Daniels says his time as co-creator of Fox's hit show Empire was “absolutely the worst experience.”

In a recent chat with The Film Stage, the filmmaker shared he doesn't like “staying in the same lane just as a creative.” Reflecting on his Empire days, he was curious about having “to be able to answer to suits,” wanting to know what that was like.

“All my friends, they get notes and shit,” he explained. “And I'm like, ‘What is that like?!' You know what I mean? Because every film of mine had been independent. All my shit is independent. You know, my first movie was developed with drug money. Monster's Ball. We won the first Black woman an Oscar. Every one of my films has been independently financed where I'm able to … do my thing and nobody is in my head.”

He went on, “There's so many filmmakers and writers that I respect that have to answer to people. So I only did Empire just so I could see what that experience was like.” When asked about the actual experience, he admitted, “Horrible! Absolutely the worst experience.”

But Daniels found a bright side to making the series: “Fucking that money, money, money!” he said. “I was able to put my kids through college and shit. So that in itself was worth it.”

QUICKIES

This is why Jeff Bridges refused to kiss Winona Ryder during their Fearless audition. [Huffington Post]
Karma. Lenny Hochstein and Katharina Mazepa have called off their engagement. [Us Weekly]
Sad news for Paula Abdul fans. She's had to cancel her tour due to recent injuries. [Deadline]
Moving forward, Michael Keaton will be going by his actual name, Michael Keaton Douglas. [Pajiba]
Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen are set to lead a limited series on the JonBenét Ramsey case at Paramount+. [Variety]

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Benny Blanco’s Persian rug-inspired pedicure.

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