Lee Daniels open to working with Jussie Smollett again despite past controversy

Lee Daniels, the creator of Empire, has expressed his willingness to work with Jussie Smollett again, despite the controversy surrounding the actor's legal troubles. In a recent interview on iHeartRadio's The Breakfast Club, Daniels described his relationship with Smollett as "complicated," but emphasized the strong bond they once shared. "He was a son to me. And he also represented me," Daniels said, acknowledging the significant role Smollett played in the success of Empire, where he portrayed Jamal Lyon for five of the show's six seasons.

Smollett's career was derailed in 2019 after he was accused of orchestrating a fake hate crime to gain publicity. Although initial charges against him were dropped, they were later refiled, leading to his conviction on charges of filing a false police report. He was sentenced to 30 months of felony probation, including 150 days in jail, and was ordered to pay restitution and a fine. However, Smollett was released pending an appeal, which the Illinois Supreme Court agreed to hear earlier this year.

Despite the legal challenges, Daniels and Smollett have reconnected, with the two now exchanging text messages. "It's so complicated, guys. It's so complicated. Life is so complicated," Daniels remarked, reflecting on the uncertainty surrounding Smollett's case. "I still don't know what to believe," he admitted. "People say he didn't do it, he did do it. God bless him on his journey."

Smollett has continued his work in the entertainment industry, recently debuting a film he co-wrote, produced, and directed, The Lost Holliday, at the American Black Film Festival. Addressing his ongoing appeal, Smollett stated, "Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and let everybody think that you're crazy, that you're shady, that you're a fraud, whatever they're going to think."