"Empire" series actor Jussie Smollett has been axed from the season's last episodes. The announcement comes in the wake of his arrest on charges that he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself last month in downtown Chicago. The controversy surrounding his case has prompted "Empire" producers to cut his character, Jamal Lyon, from
the season's last two episodes. Police said Smollett planned the hoax because he was unhappy with his salary and wanted to promote his career. Smollett is allegedly earning more than $100,000 per episode. The actor has maintained his innocence. It is not yet known if Smollett will return to the show in the future.