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Jussie Smollett axed from Empire episodes after ‘race attack hoax’

Written by on 24/02/2019

Jussie Smollett is to be removed from two Empire episodes after “very disturbing” allegations he faked a racist and homophobic attack.

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The hit show’s producers say the actor’s character will be taken out of the final two editions of the current season “to avoid further disruption on set”.

The executive producers of the Twentieth Century Fox show said in a statement: “The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us.

“Jussie has been an important member of our EMPIRE family for the past five years and we care about him deeply.

“While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out.

“We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season.”

His future in the show has not been confirmed beyond his removal from the two episodes.

Smollett, who is gay and black, has been charged with making a false report to police that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago, where the show is filmed.

Police accuse him of faking the alleged assault in order to promote his career and get a salary increase for his role on the hit US music industry drama.

Smollett, 36, who plays Jamal Lyon in the show, claimed he was targeted by two masked men, apparently Donald Trump supporters, as he walked home from a sandwich shop.

He told detectives the attackers shouted racist and homophobic slurs, put a noose around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.

But following three weeks of mounting suspicions, he was charged on Wednesday and handed himself in on Thursday.

The actor is suspected of paying two brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, to stage the attack.

They are both co-operating with the investigation, police said.

The pair have been seen on CCTV buying items allegedly worn by the attackers.

On Thursday, Smollett appeared in a Chicago court where a judge set bail at $100,000 (£77,000), telling him the charges were “utterly outrageous” and “despicable”, if true.

The actor was in tears when he returned to filming in the city later and begged fellow cast members to believe he was innocent of the charges, TMZ reported.

(c) Sky News 2019: Jussie Smollett axed from Empire episodes after ‘race attack hoax’