Jussie Smollett won't return to Empire, show's creator announces

Smollett played Jamal Lyon for five seasons

Jussie Smollett will not return to Empire, the show’s creator has announced.

Lee Daniels, who created the Fox show with Danny Strong, said in a tweet on Tuesday that the actor would not be back when the series returns.

“Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire,” Daniels wrote in response to a report that discussed Smollett’s possible comeback on the show.

Daniels deemed those comments “not factual”.

It was revealed in May that Fox would cancel Empire after giving the show a sixth and final season.

The announcement came in the aftermath of the controversy involving Smollett, who played musician Jamal Lyon on the drama.

Smollett was charged in February with allegedly lying to the police about being the victim of a racist, homophobic attack in Chicago in January.

All charges were dropped in March, in a move criticised by Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and then-mayor Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Smollett has maintained his innocence.