Jussie Smollett’s role on the hit TV show “Empire” has been drastically cut in the wake of allegations that he staged an assault against himself, according to a report Tuesday.
Smollett, 36, who plays gay singer-songwriter Jamal Lyon on the Fox show, was supposed to have nine scenes and a big musical performance in the penultimate episode of season 5, which is currently being shot, production sources told TMZ.
However, five scenes and the musical number have been deleted.
As a result, Smollett is spending far less time on set and scriptwriters have been scrambling over to revise the current season’s scripts.
A grand jury will soon begin hearing evidence that could result in felony charges against Smollett, who could be charged with filing a false police report for allegedly paying two men he knew $3,500 to concoct the attack.
