Actor Jussie Smollett won’t appear on the final two episodes of the current season of Empire, the producers of the show told the Associated Press on Friday.

Smollett was arrested Thursday on charges that he filed a false police report when he claimed he was assaulted by two men wearing red hats and yelling “Trump country.” Chicago police claim Smollett hired his actors and also forged a piece of hate mail.

Producers for the Fox show said Smollett wouldn’t be on the final episodes of Empire “to avoid further disruption on set.” […] – ABC News 10, San Diego

Damn I missed it. I hope they replay it.

HE SOLD OUT THE BLACK/AFRICAN-AMERICAN, OTHER POC, AND LBGTQ COMMUNITIES FOR $3500!!! ENTIRE COMMUNITIES HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF HIS TREASONOUS, SELFISH ACTIONS.

Saying that I feel betrayed is an understatement 1000x greater than the incompetence of the entire Trump Confederacy!

I have no shame in saying this but I want to beat down this fool myself. I’m pretty sure someone will beat me to the punch. […]

(Prosecutor giving more detailed info of the staged attack)

H/T: MSNBC

“First, Smollett attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language,” Johnson said. “When that didn’t work, Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack and drag Chicago’s reputation through the mud in the process. … This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary. So he concocted a story about being attacked.”

When investigators figured out the real motive behind the attack, “quite frankly, it pissed everybody off,” Johnson said.

“It’s just despicable,” he said. “It makes you wonder what’s going on in someone’s mind to be able to do something like that. … I’m left hanging my head and asking why? Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations? How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?”

Johnson began his news conference by looking out at the crowded room of reporters at police headquarters and noting, “I just wish that the families of gun violence in this city got this much attention.”

Smollett surrendered to Chicago police around 5 a.m. Thursday on a felony charge of disorderly conduct alleging he made a false police report. Smollett, 36, turned himself in at the Central District police station at 1718 S. State St., flanked by four or five people, according to police spokesman Thomas Ahern, who was present during the surrender. […] – Chicago Tribune, Feb. 21, 2019