Lee Daniels on Casting Jussie Smollett Again: A Complicated Relationship with a Former Protégé

In a revealing conversation on “The Breakfast Club,” acclaimed “Empire” creator Lee Daniels opened up about his complex relationship with Jussie Smollett, five years after the actor’s highly publicized hoax scandal. Despite the controversy surrounding Smollett, Daniels expressed a willingness to work with the actor again, emphasizing the deep personal connection they shared.

“I’d work with him again,” Daniels admitted during the interview. “I’d cast him in something. He was like a son to me. And he also represented me and the movement I didn’t even know I was starting. I was so focused on making ‘Empire’ a success, on the music, on Cookie’s hat, that I wasn’t aware of what was happening in the culture.”

Daniels continued, reflecting on the turmoil that followed Smollett’s 2019 incident. “That whole situation was complicated. I still don’t know what to believe. Honestly, I don’t know what to believe. People say he didn’t do it; he did do it. God bless him on his journey.”

The incident in question involved Smollett, a gay Black man, who reported being attacked by two men in Chicago. He claimed they used racist and homophobic slurs, poured bleach on him, and placed a rope around his neck. However, after an investigation, authorities accused Smollett of orchestrating the attack, allegedly paying two brothers R65,000 to stage the incident as a way to express his dissatisfaction with his “Empire” salary.

While the scandal significantly impacted Smollett’s career, Daniels’ recent comments suggest that their bond remains intact, though clouded by uncertainty. Daniels’ willingness to potentially work with Smollett again highlights the enduring, if complicated, nature of their relationship.