Lee Daniels talks forthcoming #MeToo comedy for Amazon starring Whitney Cummings and Lisa Kudrow
Lee Daniels has a new project in the works with comedians Lisa Kudrow and Whitney Cummings.
The Empire creator, 59, announced he was working with Amazon to produce a comedy about the #MeToo movement during a Tuesday morning appearance on Good Day New York.
Daniels, who was there to promote the play he is producing, Ain't No Mo', did not offer any more information about the project during the AM show but did go on to talk about that show later on Power 105.1 FM's The Breakfast Club.
![New stuff: Empire creator Lee Daniels said he is currently working on a project with Whitney Cummings (above April 4) and Lisa Kudrow](http://web.archive.org./web/20190424180225/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/17/12666808-6955819-image-m-39_1556121836010.jpg)
![Contemporary: The Amazon show is a comedy about the #MeToo movement](http://web.archive.org./web/20190424180225/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/17/12666806-6955819-image-a-40_1556121842405.jpg)
New stuff: Empire creator Lee Daniels said he is currently working on a project with Whitney Cummings (left) and Lisa Kudrow
According to an IMDB page which appears to be for the project, the yet-to-be-titled streaming series will follow: 'A college administrator tries to bridge the gap between her generation's views on feminism with the students coming of age during the #MeToo movement.'
Asked if the world is 'too politically correct' for such a story, during an appearance on Power 105.1 FM's The Breakfast Club later that morning, he said: 'F*** no' before following up with 'Who cares?'
'[On the show] we talk about the insanity and how far it's gone with... people's rights. Like, when is enough enough. Has it gone too far?'
'We see the #MeToo movement from the perspective of three different women from three different generations.
'What used to be a date for a 60-year-old woman is assault for an 18-year-old girl,' he explained.
Host Charlamagne tha God interjected, saying: 'Or maybe it was always assault and but we didn't know any better.'
'Exactly,' Lee said, 'So what is it exactly.'
![Behind it all: Last fall Deadline reported Daniels (above April 23) would direct the pilot](http://web.archive.org./web/20190424180225/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/17/12667032-6955819-Behind_it_all_Last_fall_Deadline_reported_Daniels_above_April_23-m-42_1556122029880.jpg)
Behind it all: Last fall Deadline reported Daniels (above April 23) would direct the pilot
Last fall Deadline reported Daniels would direct the pilot for the 30-min comedy, which he and Cummings co-created.
It will be the first time both Kudrow and Cummings will collaborate with Daniels.
During the same AM show appearance Daniels begrudgingly commented on the ongoing Jussie Smollett situation.
'It's so painful that our souls are cracked,' said Daniels. 'It's just too painful to talk about.'
He went on to explain the possibility of Smollett not returning to Empire, where he plays the character Jamal.
![Dynamic duo: Lee Daniels spoke about the Jussie 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/20190424180225/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/16/12664502-0-image-a-1_1556118836328.jpg)
Dynamic duo: Lee Daniels spoke about the Jussie 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)
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.'
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.'
![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/20190424180225/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/17/12664462-6955819-Lyons_He_revealed_that_Smollett_may_not_be_able_to_return_to_Emp-a-44_1556122457417.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, 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.
![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/20190424180225/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/24/17/12664480-6955819-Lending_an_ear_I_have_had_conversations_with_him_and_he_is_in_a_-a-43_1556122393567.jpg)
Lending an ear: 'I have had conversations with him and he is in a lot of pain,' said Daniels (Smollett mugshot above)
'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.'