‘Empire’ Explains Jamal’s Absence From Its Ultimate Season

Jussie Smollett’s controversial authorized drama led to him being benched from Empire’s sixth and remaining season. Contemplating he performs principal character Jamal Lyon, his absence will likely be seen by followers of the sequence. Now, Empire showrunner Brett Mahoney has revealed how they plan to elucidate his character’s mysterious disappearance.

In an interview with TV Line, Mahoney defined that Jamal Lyon will likely be “taking a sabbatical from the household” and can thus not be seen in any respect all through the season.

“He does not need to be caught up in Lyon household drama, which may be very a lot in step with his standpoint final season — that [the family business] needs to be one thing that the household strikes away from,” he stated. “Jamal and Kai have determined to remain in London.”

Followers of the present will recall that final season Smollett’s character, Jamal, married his accomplice, Kai Givens (Toby Onwumere), within the first wedding ceremony of a Black, homosexual couple throughout a prime-time tv program.

The information of Smollett’s everlasting exit comes months after the present’s stars, together with Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Nicole Ari Parker, Bryshere Y. Grey and extra, wrote a letter to Fox, 20th Century Fox and Empire, asking for the embattled star to come back again for season six.

Although the community claimed to be negotiating an extension to Smollett’s possibility for season six again in April, Lee Daniels later confirmed that the chance was dismissed and Smollett will likely be excluded from the present’s remaining season.