Lee Daniels says Jussie Smollett not returning for final season of 'Empire'
Lee Daniels, co-creator of Empire, said on Twitter Tuesday night that embattled actor Jussie Smollett will not be returning to the show for its final season.
Daniels was responding to a report by Variety that claimed the show's writers were throwing out ideas for the upcoming final season with the belief Smollett would appear in some episodes.
Daniels said that's not factual.
Smollett's character was cut from the end of last season after Chicago police charged him with disorderly conduct for filing a false police report in an attack he allegedly staged against himself. Those charges were later dropped.
Both 20th Century Fox and Smollett's representatives had no comment Tuesday night.
Previous coverage:
RELATED: Cook Co. State's Attorney's Office releases documents in Jussie Smollett case
RELATED: Chicago police release 400 pages of Jussie Smollett case files
RELATED: Judge rules to unseal records in Jussie Smollett case
RELATED: 'Empire' will go 1 more season, Smollett's future is unclear
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's contract extended, no plans for character to return to 'Empire'
RELATED: Osundairo brothers file defamation lawsuit against Jussie Smollett's attorneys
RELATED: Kim Foxx receives death threats after Jussie Smollett charges dropped
RELATED: Kim Foxx's chief spokesperson resigns from State's Attorney's Office
RELATED: 2 top staffers leaving Kim Foxx's State's Attorney's Office
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Kim Foxx's texts and emails raise more questions about recusal
Kim Foxx texts show she thought number of Jussie Smollett charges 'excessive'
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx asks for review of how Jussie Smollett case was handled
RELATED: City sues Jussie Smollett for cost of investigating alleged staged attack
RELATED: Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx lets Derrion Albert killer off the hook
RELATED: Kim Foxx says 'this is personal' about calls for her to resign
RELATED: Jussie Smollett attorney responds to Chicago's civil suit threat
RELATED: Taraji P. Henson weighs in on 'Empire' co-star Jussie Smollett's case
RELATED: Jussie Smollett case leads to protests for, against Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx
RELATED: Chris Rock rips an absent Jussie Smollett at the NAACP Image Awards
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's surprise deal raises new questions
RELATED: City of Chicago asks Jussie Smollett to pay for $130,000 cost of investigation
RELATED: FBI reviewing circumstances of Jussie Smollett's charges being dropped, sources confirm
RELATED: What's inside the CPD Jussie Smollett investigative file?
RELATED: Mayor Emanuel calls decision to drop charges against Smollett 'whitewash of justice'
RELATED: Charges dropped against 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett
RELATED: Osundairo brother at center of Jussie Smollett case compete in Chicago boxing match
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: 'Pain and anger' around 'Empire' in recent weeks, Lee Daniels says
RELATED: Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty to disorderly conduct charges
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Texts shed light on why State's Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself
RELATED: Jussie Smollett appears in court for hearing; Cameras allowed for Thursday hearing
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Brothers 'taken advantage of' by Smollett, attorney says
RELATED: Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 felony counts by grand jury
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's check to brothers obtained by ABC News
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's character to be removed from 'Empire', producers say
RELATED: What's next for Jussie Smollett? Possible big police bill
RELATED: Jussie Smollett alleged hoax may cast doubt on real hate crimes, advocates fear
RELATED: Jussie Smollett out on bond after being accused of staging attack
RELATED: Cook Co. State's Attorney Kim Foxx recuses herself from Jussie Smollett investigation
RELATED: Activist calls for Smollett's arrest, believes actor lied about attack
RELATED: Brothers tell police that Jussie Smollett paid them to stage attack, official says
RELATED: Sources: Police investigating whether Smollett staged attack with help of others
RELATED: Timeline of key moments in alleged attack on Jussie Smollett
RELATED: Jussie Smollett breaks silence on Chicago attack
RELATED: Photos show potential persons of interest in 'Empire' actor attack, police say
RELATED: 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett attacked in Chicago in possible hate crime, police say
