Is Jussie Smollett leaving “Empire?”
On Thursday, May 12, Smollett shared a cryptic tweet, where he appeared to hint at leaving the hit FOX musical drama that made him a household name. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time w/ @EmpireFOX. I love you all. Truth. Time 2 make a record & some movies. #Empire,” he wrote, signing off with a rose emoji.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time w/ @EmpireFOX. I love you all. Truth. Time 2 make a record & some movies. #Empire ? pic.twitter.com/xeCONIhAlE
— Jussie Smollett (@JussieSmollett) May 12, 2016
However, according to Entertainment Weekly, Jamal Lyon’s days aren’t numbered after all. Thursday’s tweet seems to be more so a nod to “Empire’s” Wednesday night cliffhanger episode, during which Smollett’s character was shot and rushed into surgery. Naturally, fans freaked out over speculation it was a wrap for Mr. Lyon.
@JussieSmollett @EmpireFOX #Empire ..ummmm, okay, so, ….”Enjoyed” is PAST tense. Did you just drop a bomb, like on tonight’s episode?!!
— Princess Lovejoy (@PLovejoy68) May 12, 2016
@JussieSmollett @EmpireFOX please don’t leave us!! We luv I so much! I luv u so much ❤️❤️❤️#Empire
— EvilRegal_Gladiator (@cinziasanna89) May 12, 2016
As of Thursday morning, more than 5,000 fans retweeted the message. Smollett has been a fixture on the show since its debut in 2015, playing Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) and Lucious Lyon’s (Terrence Howard) gay son who transforms into a superstar R&B singer-songwriter, caught in a tug and war with brother’s Andre Lyon (Trai Byers) and Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Y. Gray) over rights to the company fortune.
Lucky for fans, not only does it appear users jumped to conclusions but Smollett has also dropped new original music. In case you missed it, during last night’s episode Lyon belted out a new tune, “Hemingway.” “I know I loved you from the first day/ Don’t know just how you turn the gray skies to blue,” he crooned. “But it’s true that I’m gonna keep on loving you.”
