Daniels: 'Pain and anger' around 'Empire' in recent weeks LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Empire" co-creator and executive producer Lee Daniels says the weeks since cast member Jussie Smollett was arrested and charged with fabricating a racist and homophobic attack have been "a freakin' rollercoaster." In an Instagram video that doesn't refer to Smollett by name, Daniels says since "the incident" he and his cast have "experienced pain and anger and sadness and frustration and really don't know how to deal with it." Daniels had been among the first to voice his support for Smollett after he made the report in January. Daniels says the situation nearly made him forget to tell audiences that the Fox drama returns to the air Wednesday. Daniels and other producers removed Smollett's character from the season's final episodes after his arrest in Chicago. Smollett has pleaded not guilty.
On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 9:30 AM Steve Timko <[email protected]> wrote: > He is cut from the final two episodes. > > > https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/22/entertainment/jussie-smollett-cut-empire/index.html > > On Thu, Feb 21, 2019, 7:45 PM Kevin M. <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> On Thu, Feb 21, 2019 at 7:37 PM Steve Timko <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> According to TMZ Smollett pleaded with the "Empire" cast and said he >>> didn't do this. Obviously he has the presumption of innocence, but he >>> appears to have left behind a mountain of evidence: The magazines used to >>> clip the letters for the phony threat, texts setting up the plot, plus the >>> conspirators caught on video buying the masks. He is digging himself in >>> deeper, which makes it harder to come clean. >>> I don't think he has any criminal history, but I think prison could be >>> warranted. He made it that much tougher for blacks and gays to report >>> legitimate hate crimes. >>> >> >> As I posted on Facebook earlier, there were three top stories today: A >> Trump coconspirator taken to task for threatening his judge on social >> media, the arrest of an active serviceman for amassing a weapons stockpile >> with the intention of murdering journalists Trump has called enemies of the >> people, and an actor who lied about being assaulted. The distinction is >> that once it became apparent that Smollett was a lying ass, those who >> defended him were quick to oppose his stupidity and encourage the charges >> against him. Imagine if the GOP leadership was as able to admit a mistake >> and encourage righting a wrong. >> >> >> >>> On Thu, Feb 21, 2019 at 7:41 AM 'Bob Jersey' via TVorNotTV < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Moi, yesterday (2/20): >>>>> >>>>> NBC News >>>>> <https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/chicago-police-jussie-smollett-considered-suspect-his-report-hate-crime-n973036> >>>>> (link): CPD now suspects Smollett of making a false police report, a >>>>> low-level felony in Illinois. >>>>> >>>>> The state's attorney (district attorney in most states) for Cook >>>>> County recused herself from the case, "based upon familiarity with >>>>> potential witnesses," per an email. >>>>> >>>>> Aaaaaaaand he's in custody. I turned on the Wendy-less show (WWOR) to >>>> find a panel hoping he comes clean about it, then went to WPVI to find ABC >>>> showing a presser by the cops-in-charge in lieu of "Rachael." >>>> >>>> Variety >>>> <https://variety.com/2019/film/news/jussie-smollett-arrested-chicago-police-1203144754/> >>>> (link) >>>> >>>> B >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "TVorNotTV" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "TVorNotTV" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> -- >> Kevin M. (RPCV) >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "TVorNotTV" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
