Lee Daniel’s Addresses Empire’s Criticism, Rumors Trai Byers Wanted to Quit Show

Lee Daniels

In a recent panel at PaleyFest, Lee Daniels –co-creator of the hip-hop drama Empire — discussed the hit shows progress and growing pains, along with rumors Trai Byers wanted to leave the show. Peep a few excerpts.

On the criticism from season 2: 

It’s just a process. And at the end of the day, we came back,… It’s a learning process. It’s really learning about everybody and trying things out. How do you make greatness without testing?

On producing the show: 

Every week we hit a hurdle that most people would trip over, but we’re able to manage that…  We do have moments where we’re like, ‘What in the f— is this?’

Trai Byers

On Trai Byers rumors of leaving the show: 

When I picked up Page Six in the New York Post and saw that Trai Byers was leaving the show, I said, ‘We are a hit, because they were talking about us,’ …. That’s when you know the haters gonna hate that, I was excited.

On whether or not Byers was in fact going to leave:

I begged Trai to please stay on the show… He was never leaving the show.

Empire Cast (Upfronts 2015)

On where the cast stands:

We are where we are and ain’t nobody gonna take us down. We are a family. We are tight and the haters gonna hate.

The show returns March 30th. Click here for the full story.

By –@authorsequaia