For many ’90s TV fans, Malik Yoba’s role as Vernon Turner on FOX’s megahit “Emipre” was a major comeback for the veteran actor. And that’s why when fans learned that Yoba’s character was killed off during this week’s season finale, they were shocked to see Turner bite the bullet. But did Yoba expect his character to die? According to him, no.
In a new interview with TMZ, Yoba revealed that he was doing in Ferguson, Missouri, setting up a screening of the second episode of “Empire” to raise money for the Urban League Save Our Sons program when he got the news from Lee Daniels that his character wouldn’t survive the show’s freshman season.
“I went back to my hotel room five days after the premiere, we were shooting episode 11, and I was told in episode 12,” Yoba shared.
“Lee had called me and told me that someone at Fox decided that someone needed to die in the season finale and I was like, ‘Word?’ ” said Yoba.
When asked if it was Daniels or FOX that ultimately decided Turner’s fate, Yoba says that he’s still not sure who chose to kill off his character.
“Honestly, to this day, I don’t know who in their infinite wisdom [thought] that was the best approach, but someone did,” said Yoba. “I never really got a clear answer. But it wasn’t about the work. It wasn’t about ethics or work ethics … it was the plot line.”
Luckily, Yoba isn’t too hurt about moving on from the series and he explained what’s next for him now that his “Empire” run is over. Find out more after the cut.
