Report: Jussie Smollett will "most likely" be dropped from Empire even after criminal charges against him were dropped

Deadline

Fox is "in a tricky position over what to do with the series and one of its stars," says Deadline's Dominic Patten. "It’s a position that seems headed towards Empire coming back for another season, but most likely without Smollett, who has always claimed and continues to insist that he is innocent." As one insider tells him: “Things are so unclear and there is a feeling that this isn’t over, that there’s more to come." Patten points out that despite Smollett no longer facing 16 felony charges, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is still investigating him for allegedly writing a fake threatening letter to himself, which could land him in prison. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working closely with our law enforcement partners on this investigation,” the USPS said Wednesday.

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