‘Empire’ Producers Cut Smollett's Character From End of Season

(Bloomberg) -- Producers from the 20th Century Fox show "Empire" are cutting the character played by Jussie Smollett to avoid "further disruption on set" as the actor faces felony disorderly conduct charges for filing a false police report.

"Empire" Executive Producers Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brett Mahoney, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo and Dennis Hammer announced the decision in a statement Friday.

The move comes after prosecutors said Smollett faked a racist and homophobic attack on himself in Chicago.

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