SOHH Squad
"Empire" stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson want their fictional son back. The high-profile duo reportedly have every intent on convincing TV network Fox to bring back estranged cast member Jussie Smollett.
According to reports, both Howard and Henson believe Smollett’s character Jamal Lyon plays a key role in the show’s story.
Sources on the show tell us cast members — including Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard — feel Jussie deserves a fair shake, and that should include a full return to the show. As for why … we’re told the cast feels Jussie’s character was an incredibly important part of the show, and they don’t feel his return will hurt ratings. (TMZ)
Last Tuesday, the network announced its decision to bring back the hip-hop soap opera but with no plans of having Smollett return.
Jussie Smollett’s future on “Empire” remains in limbo. The series has officially been renewed for a sixth season on Fox, but there are no plans for Smollett’s character Jamal to return. Smollett, 36, was accused of orchestrating a racial and homophobic-fuelled assault on himself. He was eventually indicted for disorderly conduct, but all charges against Smollett were controversially dropped. (ET Canada)
Prior to the renewal, Howard and Henson joined others in requesting Jussie to return for its sixth season.
Henson, Howard, and the rest of the drama series’ top cast, penned an April 19 letter to Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier, Disney TV Studios and ABC Entertainment chair Dana Walden, Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn, Empire co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, and other executive producers on the series, Varietyconfirmed. “Together, as a united front, we stand with Jussie Smollett and ask that our co-star, brother and friend be brought back for our sixth season of Empire,” read the letter, obtained by Deadline. It is signed by Bryshere Y. Gray, Trai Byers, Gabourey Sidibe, Nicole Ari Parker, and others. (Variety)
In March, New York rapper 50 Cent trolled Jussie with an R. Kelly meme.
