Jussie Smollett Asks Fans Not To Give Up On ‘Empire’

Jussie Smollett Asks Fans Not To Give Up On ‘Empire’

Empire has experienced a significant dip in ratings since the series’ season two premiere. While Jussie Smollett acknowledges the decline, he’s encouraging fans to stay tuned.

“I understand the backlash,” 32-year-old Smollett told Essence. “They have something to compare it to now. But this isn’t a show about happy endings. It’s messy and wild and emotional and complicated and fucked up, but it’s worth the ride. It will pay off. Don’t stop watching.”

He goes on to say: “Everyone, no matter their age, race or sexual orientation can relate to the underdog. Everyone has felt misunderstood and counted out – some of us more than others – but we all know that feeling and that’s what Jamal represents.”

Are you still watching Empire? Why or why not?

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  1. ken
    December 03, 06:18 Reply

    If I have to be honest, there are 2 reasons I watch empire

    1. It gives me opportunity to secretly lust after Jussie and daydream of our wedding day

    2. Taraji P’s strong but funny character

    So is my baby boo’s sweet voice: Please dont give up on us….em, I mean empire 🙂

    • Pink Panther
      December 03, 06:20 Reply

      I don’t get the public appeal for Jamal, when the older brother Andre is there, hotter and hunkier. Even though he or the others don’t gat enough appeal to make me return to Empire. 🙂

      • Max
        December 03, 06:36 Reply

        @PP, quit lusting after muscular men!!

        Andre is married and so hooked.. People don’t like that.

        • Pink Panther
          December 03, 06:38 Reply

          Oh you mean, YOU don’t like that.
          Angel Maxine, abeg rest joor. All’s fair in love and snatching Andre from his pasty wife. 😀 😛

          • Dennis Macaulay
            December 03, 06:55 Reply

            I barely watch Empire but I like the youngest brother!

            Dude leaves me flustered

            • ken
              December 03, 07:28 Reply

              Yall are gross!
              Andre is a twisted psychopathic sociopath with hot flashes and violent mood swings.

              And the youngest of the trio, well, is nothing but a spoilt brat with fat lips and a flat head. He can do those situps from now till kingdom come, aint nofin “flustering” about that!

              • posh6666
                December 03, 08:27 Reply

                Dont you ever talk about my Hakeem like that ever again! Gosh that boy turns me on so bad especially in episode 9 i was able to get a glimpse of his exposed legs and thighs and i was super turned on

          • Max
            December 03, 08:55 Reply

            @PP You don’t like married men do you? Don’t tell me you’re a home wrecker, the other woman, the side chick, the sports fish… Do you want me to continue??

            @Dennis, of course you like people younger than you, oh and please stay off Haekeem, he’s muscular, you’re a twink hoe. Go find someone else.

            The three brothers has issues, so I don’t like either of them fully. I’ll take bits and pieces of them and mould the perfect man. Jossie’s face and voice, Hakeem’s body and Andre’s loyalty.

          • KingBey
            December 05, 17:05 Reply

            Well you have your wish because she was pushed down the staircase by a masked someone I suspect to be Anika. And she dropped down dead. Empire getting hotter by the day.

            • posh6666
              December 05, 17:52 Reply

              Is it Anika or Onika watevs things are really getting interesting from episode 8 and who foresaw Onika turning into a psychotic bitch?

              At 1st she just looked like a typical hustling bitch who was determined to make it big regardless of who she had to sleep with including father and son and now she’s a stalker and downright psycho!

  2. Max
    December 03, 06:25 Reply

    Quit begging Jossie. People will either watch it or won’t. Your appeal means nothing.

  3. Mandy
    December 03, 06:29 Reply

    I’m still watching o, with flagging interest. Lee Daniels has got to fire the writers of this season and employ a new batch, preferably with some whites sprinkled amongst the black writers he’s so proud of.

  4. bashir
    December 03, 06:36 Reply

    Empire is still a good show!! Compare to some over-hyped shows out there …

  5. Dick Advocate
    December 03, 06:49 Reply

    How do you better the first season.. The moment Jamal became the poster boy for empire I knew it was going down the drains. Terrence should have continued to be the poster boy, he has the charisma for such feat.
    But really how do you beat the first season. It was filled with so much drama and fun it had everyone jaws dropping. How do you beat that? So I think this fall in ratings was expected.

  6. Dennis Macaulay
    December 03, 06:56 Reply

    Did I not say it? Then it became the show where fading musicians go to revive their careers!

    Abeggi!

  7. Francis
    December 03, 07:35 Reply

    Thus began the fight to keep his paycheck uninterrupted

  8. Mitch
    December 03, 07:45 Reply

    Of course! Is it not that celebrity cameo show? Abegi, if it ain’t Annalise or Olivia Pope drama, do not involve me! Nansense and condiments!

  9. Sinnex
    December 03, 07:49 Reply

    As long as Hakeem is still in the show, then I’d continue watching… who cares about a 32 year old man sef…

    • Max
      December 03, 08:58 Reply

      Yeah, Hakeem, just how you like them
      Black
      Rude
      Rough
      Rugged
      Flat head
      Kpomo lips
      Loose canon

      Kinda Hard to miss

      • Brian Collins
        December 03, 11:47 Reply

        All wrapped up in one man. Sinnex is just a lucky sumborri

  10. bashir
    December 03, 08:04 Reply

    Well, I bet with this last episode, jussie don’t need to beg nobody!!

  11. Delle
    December 03, 09:59 Reply

    Abeg all of you sef ehn. I’m still watching Empire o (well that’s whenever I find someone to lend me a most recent episode).
    Cookie’s sassiness won’t die, Andre’s sexiness won’t fizzle out, Jamal’s voice won’t fade and Hakeem’s bad acting would be just that…bad!
    More than enough reasons to stay glued to Empire!
    *bows and walks out*

    • KingBey
      December 05, 17:06 Reply

      You can get all the updated episodes on sweetnoisenaija.com

  12. Chizzie
    December 03, 10:07 Reply

    You know how I said the love of my life, my husband and father of my unborn child can be razz at times? It’s because he still religiously watches this show. At this point I feel its mostly tacky Nigerians that still watch this show.. The same set of Nigerians that listen to songs about sharing the gala and the booze

    • Max
      December 03, 11:26 Reply

      I’ve heard that expression of sharing gala and booze so many times, but didn’t know where it came from..till now

    • Brian Collins
      December 03, 11:55 Reply

      I agree with only that last sentence. I hate the song and the talentless faus (hens) that did it. And then will that totally gyrate and sing the song with passion, I just wanna kill.

  13. bashir
    December 03, 10:42 Reply

    Lucious has gone mad for believing jamal’s sexuality is fixed by skye!!
    Anika has stooped to the lowest level (madness) with the plan to make her unborn child the only lyon’s granchild!!
    And jamal and skye was shred on stage on jamal’s switched sexuality and skye not identifying herself as Black!!
    ….PP I don’t how to do this writing thing abeg!! Pardon me, but just know there was murder (or attempt), betrayal, KARMA!! And resurrection! …sort of,

  14. Marc Francis of Chelsea
    December 03, 14:16 Reply

    Sorry Jussie, you lost me when Cookie wore a gorilla costume and got in a cage. I literally saw the interest leaving at that moment.

  15. Thompson
    December 03, 15:00 Reply

    Andre really is hot and perfect and his character used to have depth which I think the character is loosing just like jamal’s. The scene were he tried to kill himself and wen he apologizing to his father at prison was everything but I think his wife is a major downer for the show I liked her better wen she was a slut who slept around for favours to better her family

  16. Django
    December 03, 21:26 Reply

    Empire lost me in episode 8 of season 2 when Luscious (can’t seem to get his name right) was made to kiss a lesbian, bark at the lesbian’s friend over the phone and the kissing courtesy wasn’t extended to the lesbian who should’ve kissed the girl on the bed(who happened to be interested in her).

    Lesbianism threesome for a homophobe? Gerrarahia mehn!

    • Django
      December 03, 21:31 Reply

      Lesbian threesome, rather…

      And who gives a hoot what went on in episode 9 and all. That was the last day of empire for me.

      Like I said before, I take my lesbianism seriously, don’t need no alpha male coming to tell me “homosexuality is a broad spectrum, fluidity…” and all those stuffs lesbians don’t need to hear.

      Church nke ha a gbasa go lum biko, una dim n’ukwu.

  17. Francis
    December 03, 23:13 Reply

    Empire finally wakes up small. Praise Jizos. Lol. So nice to have Naomi back. Better fierce eye candy

    • posh6666
      December 03, 23:21 Reply

      Just saw the finale preview for s2 and Naomi will actually turn lesbian or bisexual rather and gonna be shocking people in the final moments jeez!

      • Francis
        December 03, 23:24 Reply

        The hustle for power just got very real.

    • KingBey
      December 05, 17:09 Reply

      Yas ! It’s picking up tempo again. Although I never lost hope. This Season has 18 episodes so definitely, more interesting watch is still expected

      • Francis
        December 05, 17:22 Reply

        For real?! I thought this was the pre season finale sef.

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