“Empire” creator Lee Daniels took some time to explain how the cast of the hit Fox show was dealing with the fallout over Jussie Smollett on Wednesday, one week after the actor pleaded not guilty to 16 charges in what police say was a hate-crime hoax. He said the men also wrapped a rope around his neck and threw a chemical substance at him. In a bizarre twist, their findings led them to doubt Smollett’s version of events. Authorities arrested Smollett and accused him of paying two men $3,500 to help him stage the attack because he wanted a salary bump. He appeared in court last week to plead not guilty and has maintained his innocence.

Source: Huffington Post March 21, 2019 16:07 UTC