“Empire” has reportedly cut actor Jussie Smollett’s scenes amid the controversy surrounding his attack.
The actor, who plays gay singer-songwriter Jamal Lyon on the show, was reportedly supposed to have 9 scenes and a musical performance in the second-to-last episode of Season, production sources told TMZ.
However, 5 scenes and the musical number were cut, according to TMZ.
Additionally, Smollett’s character is no longer the focus of his remaining scenes, which will now feature an entire group of characters.
As a result, Smollett is reportedly spending less time on set.
Smollett told authorities he was attacked early January 29 by two men who were “yelling out racial and homophobic slurs.”
He said one attacker put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.
Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Chicago Police believe actor Jussie Smollett paid the brothers to orchestrate an assault on him that he reported late last month.
The brothers arrested and released in connection with the attack on Smollett are no longer suspects at this time, Chicago police said Monday.
