'He is innocent': Empire stars Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard praise Jussie Smollett in letter to TV execs asking that he return to the show as actor steps out in New York City
- Jussie Smollett stepped out in New York City on Wednesday shortly after Empire creator Lee Daniels said the actor faces an uncertain future on the show
- Daniels acknowledged that the lawsuit filed against the actor by the city of Chicago is a 'dilemma' and said talks were ongoing about Smollett's future
- Also on Wednesday, Smollett was praised by Taraji P Henson, Terrence Howard, Bryshere Y Grey, Trai Byers, Gabourey Sidibe and Nicole Ari Parker
- His Empire co-stars asked that he be allowed to return to the show for its sixth season in an open letter to Fox and Disney executives, Daniels and producers
The cast of the Fox series Empire released an open letter on Wednesday praising their embattled co-star Jussie Smollett and asking that he be allowed to return for season six of the show.
'Together, as a united front, we stand with Jussie Smollett and ask that our co-star, brother and friend be brought back for our sixth season of Empire,' read the letter, which was signed by Taraji P Henson, Terrence Howard, Bryshere Y Grey, Trai Byers, Gabourey Sidibe and Nicole Ari Parker.
The letter went on to praise Smollett's charity work and defend him against recent allegations, with the actors writing: 'He is kind. He is compassionate. He is honest and above all he is filled with integrity. He is also innocent and no longer subject to legal uncertainty with the criminal charges against him having been dropped.'
These comments came just a few hours after Lee Daniels appeared on the Fox morning show Good Day New York and said that Smollett faced an uncertain future on the show due to his lawsuit with the city of Chicago.
Daniels was among those who the letter was sent to, with the other recipients including: Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier, ABC Entertainment chair Dana Walden, Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn, and show producers Danny Strong, Brett Mahoney, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo and Dennis Hammer.
Smollett meanwhile was spotted in New York City on Thursday afternoon, with the actor strolling the streets of the Big Apple after his lengthy Hawaiian vacation.
![Big apple: Jussie Smollett stepped out in New York City on Wednesday (above)](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/22/12680614-0-image-a-24_1556142515321.jpg)
Big apple: Jussie Smollett stepped out in New York City on Wednesday (above)
![Jussie in NYC](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/22/12680622-0-image-a-32_1556142664359.jpg)
![Smollett at lunch](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/22/12680630-0-image-a-33_1556142664445.jpg)
On the scene: He was spotted leaving a restaurant (above) shortly after Empire creator Lee Daniels said the actor faces an uncertain future on the show
![Trouble: Daniels acknowledged that the lawsuit filed against the actor by the city of Chicago is a 'dilemma'](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/22/12680620-6957011-image-a-35_1556143009627.jpg)
Trouble: Daniels acknowledged that the lawsuit filed against the actor by the city of Chicago is a 'dilemma'
![Smollet keeps his head down](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/22/12680624-6957011-image-m-39_1556143087853.jpg)
![Smollett and a bodyguard](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/25/01/12680628-6957011-Smollett_and_a_bodyguard-a-1_1556151285575.jpg)
Fans: His Empire co-stars asked that he be allowed to return to the show for its sixth season in an open letter to Fox and Disney executives, Daniels and producers
The open letter in support of Smollett was released on the same day he will be making his final appearance on the show this season.
On the episode set to air Wednesday night, Smollett's character will be saying 'I do' in what will be the first gay wedding featuring two black characters on network TV.
He will then be off the show, at least for the rest of the season and possibly forever.
The decision to cut Smollett from the final two episodes was also shared in an open letter that was released earlier this tear and signed by the show's producers.
In their letter, the six actors point out the many charitable endeavors that Smollett is involved in and has donated his time to over the years.
In closing, the group expresses their desire to finish out the series just like they started - as a family.
'It’s clearer every day that the extreme political climate in our country has only made our system of justice and the court of public opinion more unjust,' reads the letter.
'It is why now, more than ever, we must stand together as a family. A family is there for us in good times and bad. It can cut through the noise and confusion to understand that there is a person in the center of all this who deserves nothing more than to move forward with his life.'
Hours prior, Daniels begrudgingly commented on the ongoing situation during an appearance on Good Day New York Wednesday morning.
He was on the morning show to promote the new play he is producing, Ain’t No Mo’, when he was asked about Smollett.
'It's so painful that our souls are cracked,' said Daniels.
'It's just too painful to talk about.' Then, after a bit of poking and prodding, he revealed that Smollett's future on Empire is very much up in the air.
Daniels was asked if the city of Chicago lawsuit filed against Smollett along with the increased insurance premium now attached to the star was causing any difficulty in bringing back the actor for the show's sixth season.
'It's causing a dilemma,' admitted Daniels.
'And we are in discussions about that right now.'
![Dynamic duo: Daniels spoke about the Smollett scandal on Good Day New York and said he is concerned for the actor's mental health if he is lying about attack (Daniels and Smollett above in 2017)](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/23/12664502-6957011-Dynamic_duo_Lee_Daniels_spoke_about_the_Jussie_Smollett_scandal_-a-42_1556143449505.jpg)
Dynamic duo: Daniels spoke about the Smollett scandal on Good Day New York and said he is concerned for the actor's mental health if he is lying about attack (Daniels and Smollett above in 2017)
![Lyons: He revealed that Smollett may not be able to return to Empire for the sixth season because of his lawsuit with the city of Chicago (l to r, Bottom Row: Bryshere Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon. Middle Row: Grace Gealey as Anika, Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon. Back Row: Gabourey Sidibe as Becky, Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon and Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha)](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/23/12664462-6957011-Lyons_He_revealed_that_Smollett_may_not_be_able_to_return_to_Emp-a-41_1556143362313.jpg)
Lyons: He revealed that Smollett may not be able to return to Empire for the sixth season because of his lawsuit with the city of Chicago (l to r, Bottom Row: Bryshere Gray as Hakeem Lyon, Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon, Trai Byers as Andre Lyon. Middle Row: Grace Gealey as Anika, Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon. Back Row: Gabourey Sidibe as Becky, Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon, Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon and Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha)
Daniels refused however to offer personal commentary on the subject, or state whether he believed Smollett was telling the truth or if he was of the opinion that it was all an elaborate hoax.
'There are only two judges. God and that man that wears the robe,' said Daniels.
'And I cannot judge. I can only have compassion.'
He then explained why offering up his own commentary was of little good by referencing the recent suicide of gay 15-year-old Nigel Shelby.
'I have had conversations with him and he is in a lot of pain,' explained Daniels in reference to Smollett before then speaking about Nigel, who was bullied because of his sexuality.
'But what I believe happened does not stop that little boy from hanging himself on Friday.'
![Lending an ear: 'I have had conversations with him and he is in a lot of pain,' said Daniels (Smollett mugshot above)](http://web.archive.org./web/20190425034525/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/16/12664480-6955701-Lending_an_ear_I_have_had_conversations_with_him_and_he_is_in_a_-a-12_1556119701035.jpg)
Lending an ear: 'I have had conversations with him and he is in a lot of pain,' said Daniels (Smollett mugshot above)
Daniels, who after each question attempted to withdraw from the conversation, was finally asked if he had any concerns for Smollet's well being.
'If he is guilty than I am worried about his mental health,' confessed Daniels.
The Empire creator issued a statement with the show's executive producers back in February saying that Smollett's character would be cut from the final two episodes of the fifth season after he was hit with criminal charges, which were later dropped by prosecutors.
'The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us,' began the letter.
'Jussie has been an important member of our EMPIRE family for the past five years and we care about him deeply. While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out.'
It continued: 'We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season.'
Daniels had spoken out in the immediate aftermath of the attack, expressing his anger and concern for Smollett.
'It’s taken me a minute to come to social media about this because, Jussie, you are my son,' said Daniels in a video posted to Instagram.
'You didn’t deserve nor anybody deserves to have a noose put around your neck, to have bleach thrown on you, to be called "die f****t n****r" or whatever they said to you. You are better than that. We are better than that. America is better than that. It starts at home. It starts at home, yo. We have to love each other regardless of what sexual orientation we are because it shows we are united on a united front and no racist f*** can come in and do the things that they did to you.'
He closed out by saying: 'Hold your head up, Jussie. I’m with you. I’ll be there in a minute. It’s just another f****** day in America.'