After prank, Empire creator will ‘cast’ Jussie Smollett in future projects

Lee Daniels is opening up about his stance with Jussie Smollett.

In an interview on iHeart Radio breakfast club, this empire The 64-year-old creator opened up about his feelings five years after Smollett, 42, was convicted of false accusations of racist crimes against him. For the first time since Smollett left the show, Daniels revealed that he would like to work with him on future projects.

“I would work with him again,” he said. “I would have him star in something. He’s my son. He represents me too. He also represents the movement that I’m trying to start, but I don’t know that I’m starting the movement. I’m too busy worrying about cookies hat and the music we’re playing [on Empire]this is the previous insecuritythis is the previous black panther. Here we go.

He added, “I was so worried about getting everything right that I didn’t know what was going on in the zeitgeist.”

Daniels added that “the whole situation is complicated,” saying he never really understood the alleged incident.

“The whole situation is complicated. I still don’t know what to believe,” he admits. “Honestly, I don’t know what to believe. People say he didn’t do it, but he did. God bless him on his journey.

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In January 2019, Smollett, a gay black man, reported that he was attacked by two men on his way home from a sandwich shop late at night. He claimed the men also wrapped a rope around his neck and poured bleach on him, amid a series of racist and homophobic slurs.

After investigation, the authorities subsequently claimed that skinny The actor paid $3,500 to brothers Abimbola “Bola” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osandeiro for a “fake” hate crime attack against him. They claim it was a response to Smollett’s displeasure empire Salary after appearing on the show for five seasons.

Years later, in March 2022, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of felony probation, $120,106 in restitution and a $25,000 fine for the hate crime hoax and subsequent filing of a false police report regarding the incident. he was also released empire The sixth and final season.

Smollett maintains his innocence.

One of Smollett’s attorneys, Tina Glandian of Geragos & Geragos, told PEOPLE at the time: “We are delighted that Jussie will be reunited with his family and loved ones and look forward to the ongoing investigation of his case. A series of injustices suffered are dispassionately examined and reversed.