Cyrus Langhorne
Hollywood actor Jussie Smollett‘s “Empire” executives aren’t buying it. New reports claim producers do not believe the 36-year-old executed a staged attack over salary issues.
According to reports, Jussie and his team never approached execs about getting more money.
“Empire” production sources tell TMZ … none of the brass — producers or EPs — heard even a whisper from Jussie grousing he was underpaid. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Jussie staged the “attack” to raise his profile and get more per episode. Our sources say, if Jussie was upset about his salary, he kept it to himself. He was in the middle of a long-term contract and the executives, who are in a position to bust the deal or sweeten the pot, say neither Jussie nor his reps ever asked. (TMZ)
Reports also claim the crooner and his on-screen brother banked the same amount per episode.
Jussie was pulling in a reported $125,000 per episode. We’re told that’s on par with actor Bryshere Y. Gray, who plays his brother, Hakeem. Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard reportedly make $250,000 an episode. We’re told Jussie’s main focus recently was the release of new music. He was upset his first album didn’t do well and was stressed out over the debuts of his new songs and music videos. (TMZ)
According to reports, Jussie’s Jamal Lyon character will noticeably disappear from the upcoming season’s final episodes.
“The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us,” said EPs Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brett Mahoney, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo and Dennis Hammer in a statement this morning in reference to the supposed assault of January 29 and the subsequent legal fallout. “Jussie has been an important member of our Empire family for the past five years and we care about him deeply,” the producers added. “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.” (Deadline)
After turning himself in Thursday, Smollett posted bond and will return to court next month.
“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett appeared in court Thursday after surrendering to authorities in the early morning on one felony count of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. The judge set Smollett’s bond at $100,000. He posted bond and was released from custody shortly before 4 p.m. Smollett did not speak as he left the Cook County Jail, and was blocked from the crush of media and cameras by a large bodyguard, whose shoulders he held onto. (ABC 7 Chicago)
