Since actor and musician Jussie Smollett was indicted on 16 counts for filing a false police report, Empire showrunner Lee Daniels has remained quite mum regarding the subject.
Now, the Academy Award-nominated director has given some comments on the matter.
In a clip posted on Instagram Wednesday, Daniels tells his followers his thoughts on the controversy surrounding Smollett, who portrays Jamal Lyon on the Fox musical drama.
“These past couple of weeks have been a freakin’ rollercoaster,” Daniels said. “We have, me and my cast, have experienced pain and anger and sadness and frustration, and [we]really don’t know how to deal with it.”
“This is not what the show was made for,” he continued. ” The show was made bring America together, to talk about the atrocities happening right now in the streets.”
Smollett pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts against him after being arrested for filing a false police report in connection to an alleged racist and homophobic attack he claims he was the victim of in the early morning hours of January 29 in Chicago. Smollett is due back in court on April 17.
