They’d be pretty silly to bring him back and not expect an uproar. But they did think people were going to buy this “he’s innocent” routine.
Via Deadline:
Fox may be “gratified” that all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett have been dropped, but there are some hard choices coming for the broadcaster now regarding the fate of Empire.
Fueled by ongoing outrage from outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others, the growing blast radius from the controversial decision yesterday by state prosecutors finds the home of Empire in a tricky position over what to do with the series and one of its stars.
It’s a position that seems headed towards Empire coming back for another season, but most likely without Smollett, who has always claimed and continues to insist that he is innocent.
“Things are so unclear and there is a feeling that this isn’t over, that there’s more to come,” said an insider of the actor’s legal circumstances and ramifications for Empire. Coming off the close of the $71.3 billion Disney deal and a self-described fresh start on March 20, the new Fox Entertainment now run by Charlie Collier is looking at public opinion and some hard upcoming deadlines that along with Windy City politics may force its hand.