Taraji P. Henson, who stars as Cookie Lyon on the hit show “Empire,” said she has no reason to believe Smollett, who plays her son Jamal, will be barred from returning to the show after charges against him were dropped by prosecutors.
In an interview on ABC’s “The View,” Henson said she had not been told by anyone on the show’s staff that there were plans on getting rid of Smollett’s character and thinks he will likely remain on the cast in the sixth season. She also said she has spoken to Smollett since the incident.
“I talk to Jussie all the time, and he’s doing well. We’re all doing well, the show is doing well,” Henson said.
Smollett was arrested on Feb. 21 for allegedly submitting a false report about a hate crime. Police alleged Smollett paid two men to pour bleach on him and put a noose around his neck in order to further his own career.
In the ensuing fallout, even as Smollett maintained his innocence, his character was written out of the final two episodes of the fifth season of “Empire.”
In a surprising development, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced last month that Chicago prosecutors were dropping all charges against Smollett, causing backlash from both Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police who investigated the case. The city ultimately said it would bill Smollett for the cost of investigating the crime.
Despite the state charges being dropped, President Trump said that he has asked federal investigators to look into the case.
