By Canadian Press

Jussie Smollett will not return to ‘Empire’ for next season

Apr 30, 2019 | 5:11 PM

LOS ANGELES — Fox Entertainment says Jussie Smollett will not return to “Empire” in the wake of allegations by Chicago officials the actor lied about a racially motivated attack.

The studio released a statement Tuesday saying “there are no plans for Smollett’s character of Jamal to return to ‘Empire.'” No reason was given.

Fox announced earlier Tuesday that the show had been renewed for a sixth season.

Chicago police allege Smollett paid two brothers to help him stage a January attack in which he said two masked men beat him, hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, doused him with a chemical substance and put a rope around his neck.

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

11h ago

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

12h ago

Election 2024

Birch Hills staff won't share election decision

12h ago

Smollett, who is black and gay, maintains the attack wasn’t staged. He was arrested, but prosecutors later dropped the charges .

“Empire” films each episode in Chicago.

The Associated Press