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.”
Read more at The Film Stage
Plus, JonBenét Ramsey, Clive Owen, Melissa McCarthy, Benny Blanco news, and more! Keep scrolling to check out today’s entertainment and pop culture news.
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]
INSTAGRAM QUICKIE
Benny Blanco’s Persian rug-inspired pedicure.
LINK LOVE
HOT DEALS
- Save $46.78 on the nutribullet PRO Single Serve Blender (900W) in matte lavender! Optimized 900-Watt motor and refined nutrient extraction blades blend the toughest whole foods into nutritious shakes, smoothies, and nut butters. [Best Buy]
- Save $120 on the Shark Navigator Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuum! A 2-in-1 Powered Lift-Away® upright vacuum with a detachable canister for portable cleaning. With the touch of a button, Powered Lift-Away® technology allows you to lift the canister away and deep-clean hard-to-reach areas while still delivering power to keep the brushroll spinning. [Target]
- Save $30 on the Ninja™ CREAMi™ Ice Cream Maker, 5 One-Touch Programs, with 2 Pints Included! Turn almost anything into ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, and more. [Walmart]
- Save $100 on the KitchenAid Artisan 10-Speed Stand Mixer – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia! This KitchenAid Artisan® Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer offers the capacity to make up to 9 dozen cookies in a single batch. And, it features 10 speeds to thoroughly mix, knead and whip ingredients quickly and easily. [Target]
- Save up to 50% on a Nectar mattress. The Nectar Spring Into Savings Sale is here, with some of the deepest discounts we’ve seen on their popular memory foam mattresses and sleep bundles. [Nectar]
- Save $500 on the Samsung – 55” Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K with Anti-Reflection and Slim Fit Wall Mount Included (2024). [Best Buy]
- Save $50 with code! Theragun Prime is a powerful, easy-to-use massage gun in a simple design for effective pain relief. Whether you’re recovering from the daily grind or fueling your active lifestyle, its deep, targeted massage helps your body feel its best. [Therabody]
- Save 5% on the Bombas Men’s Gripper Ankle Sock 4-Pack. [Bombas]
Like most websites, Socialite Life uses affiliate links where available, which means we earn a little commission if you click through and buy something. Also, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases. Savings shown are those from the date and time of this article’s publication.
