With word that Empire will end after its sixth season, one of its former actors is sounding off on Jussie Smollett.

In an interview with the Black Hollywood Live show “Inside The Black Actor’s Studio”, Taye Diggs revealed that he believes Smollett should be allowed to reprise his role as Jamal Lyon in the FOX musical drama.

“If I am being honest, the smart thing would be to bring him back and, and let it interweave it into the, into the show, you know?” Diggs said. “I feel like, people, I may get in trouble for saying this, but they’re so quick to just, uh, to leave, to leave these people. You know what I mean? So quick to, to fire them, so quick to kind of, you know, throw them away as opposed to, you know, taking their time and, maybe letting it, let it, let it work toward, you know, the program or the job, or, you’d probably get to the bottom of it if he, if he stuck around.”

For those unfamiliar, Smollett was removed from the show’s sixth season after being charged on 16 counts for alledgely falsely filing a police report. Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two masked men in Chicago in the early morning hours of January 29. Charges were eventually dropped against Smollett in March.

Diggs, who played fictional NYC mayoral candidate Angelo DuBois on Empire, is not the only actor who believes Smollett should reprise his role. In April, the Empire cast wrote an open letter to Fox asking that the actor and singer reprise his role for the show’s upcoming final season.

Watch Diggs’ interview below.

READ MORE:

Lee Daniels Denies Report That Jussie Smollett Will Return To ‘Empire’

‘Empire’ Has Been Renewed For Season 6, But ‘No Plans’ To Bring Back Jussie Smollett At This Time

‘Empire’ Cast Presents United Front In Letter To Fox, Asking That Jussie Smollett Return For Season 6

 

Photo: Getty