Jussie Smollett returns to ‘Empire’ and Twitter explodes

By Terry Shropshire
Mar 14, 2019
12:22 pm

“Empire” fans were feeling some kind of way when embattled actor Jussie Smollett returned to the show after his arrest in February.

“Empire” fans watched as the specter of considerable legal trouble hangs over Smollett’s head for allegedly hiring two Nigerian brothers to stage a hate crime against him.

Last week, Smollett, 36, was indicted on 16 felony counts by a grand jury after being charged with felony disorderly conduct for making a false report in January.

Smollett continues to proclaim his innocence and his legal team called the Cook County District Attorney’s Office’s actions a case of “prosecutorial overkill” and “vindictive.”

Rolling out has already reported that Smollett’s role will be written out of the show’s final two episodes. There are also reports floating about that Smollett’s “Empire” days are numbered and that he will either be killed off next season or his character will be recast.

It was serendipitous that Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyons, had this to say on the latest episode of “Empire” regarding the Lyons’ family drama:

“I don’t know if y’all been reading the blogs and all the foolishness, but it’s kinda been a tough week,” Jamal said.

Twitter ate up the irony.

“LeeDaniels is a psychic,” one fan tweeted about “Empire’s” creator.

“Jussie Smollett watching #Empire right now,” tweeted another.

“I’m sorry it’s so hard for me to look at jussie without wanting to slap the s— outta him #Empire,” a viewer wrote.

“I’m just ready to see them write off Jamal #Empire,” a fan tweeted, alongside a gif of a woman giving a glare.

“It’s been a tough week” …hahaha more like a month so far, Jussie 😂#Empire,” another wrote.

It will not be an easy task for writers to construct a believable way to kill off his character if that’s how Fox wants to play it, but fans tuned in for last night’s return and had a lot to say: