Jussie Smollett won't return for Empire's final season

Jussie Smollett is officially not returning for the final season of Empire, according to the show's co-creator.

After Variety reported that the Fox drama's writers expect Smollett to return in the second half of the upcoming sixth season, co-creator Lee Daniels shot the idea down on Twitter, writing, "This is not factual. Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire."

Smollett was written out of the end of Empire's fifth season after police accused him of staging a fake hate crime against himself. Later, however, all charges against Smollett were unexpectedly dropped, and the actor has continued to maintain his innocence.

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20th Century Fox said upon announcing the sixth season of Empire that there were not plans for Smollett's return "at this time," but the actor's spokesperson suggested the door is open, saying, "We've been told that Jussie will not be on Empire in the beginning of the season, but he appreciates they have extended his contract to keep Jamal's future open."

Daniels now seems to be shutting that door, definitively stating on Twitter that Smollett won't be back as Jamal, the character who has portrayed since Empire's first season. The Fox drama's cast had fought for Smollett's reinstatement in an open letter, in which they criticized the "court of public opinion" and said the actor is "innocent and no longer subject to legal uncertainty."