‘Empire’ star Terrence Howard breaks silence on Jussie Smollett’s case

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In the weeks following Jussie Smollett’s alleged hate crime, inquiring minds have been keeping tabs on which of his Empire co-stars have come to his defense.

Taraji P. Henson, who plays Cookie Lyon on the hit FOX music drama, was the first to send him well-wishes on Instagram immediately after the reported attack, writing, “We all feel his pain right now.”

Read More: Jussie Smollett reportedly has evidence to dispute police claim about payment for a staged attack

Following his arrest last week on charges that he falsified a police report, TMZ noted that several of Smollett’s cast mates want him off the show. But it seems series star Terrence Howard is not one of them.

As the actor who plays music mogul Lucious Lyon on the series, he has taken to social media to support his television son.

Howard shared a video of a baby sitting on Smollett’s lap and laughing as he tickles him.

“All your lil homies got you. We love the hell outta you,” Howard captioned the video along with a heart emoji.

Read More: Jussie Smollett allegedly told police he’s battling an untreated drug addiction

The court of public opinion is not here for the brotherly love. Many took to the comments to criticize the actor for supporting his co-star. One hater received a lengthy reply from Howard who defended his decision to publicly have Smollett’s back.

“Sorry you feel that way but that’s the only Jussie I know,” he posted. “The Jussie I know could never even conceive of something so unconscious and ugly. His innocence or judgment is not for any of us to decide. Stay in your lane and my lane is empathy and love and compassion for someone I’ve called my son for five years. It’s God’s job to judge and it’s ours to love and hope, especially for those that we claim to have loved.”

Smollett, who plays Howard’s gay son Jamal Lyon on Empire, was arrested Thursday on a felony charge of disorderly conduct for falsely claiming two men hurled racist and anti-gay slurs at him and looped a rope around his neck last month in Chicago.

According to TMZ, Smollett hit up the Empire set following his release and addressed the cast and crew, saying …”I’m sorry I’ve put you all through this and not answered any calls. I wanted to say I’m sorry and, you know me, I would never do this to any of you, you are my family. I swear to God, I did not do this.”

Read More: Jussie Smollett may have conceived of alleged hoax after attack on Lee Daniels’ gay cousin

But Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson claims he staged the hoax attack as part of a “publicity stunt…to promote his career.”

Executive producers of Empire announced last week that in light of his legal woes, Smollett’s character was being removed from the season’s final two episodes.

Smollett is due back in court March 14.