‘Empire’ Ratings Sink To Lowest Ever Amid Jussie Smollett Controversy

Jussie Smollet, Gabby Sidebe, Taraji P. Henson

‘Empire’ Ratings Sink To Lowest Ever Amid Jussie Smollett Controversy

The Jussie Smollett saga continues as FOX’s Empire ratings have reached their lowest.

According to reports, the ratings for Wednesday’s episode were 3.97 million. While this number might seem impressive, it’s an all-time low for the series. As previously reported, ratings were also low when it returned from its three-month hiatus earlier this month.

The dip comes just days after it was reported all 16-count felony charges against Smollett were dropped. He faced the charges for allegedly filing a false police report, and was accused of lying about being a victim of a hate crime. He claimed he was attacked in Chicago by two Caucasian male Donald Trump supporters, who threw in homophobic and racial slurs.

It later came out that the two men who attacked him were Nigerian brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo, who had ties to Empire. The brothers insisted that Smollett paid them to attack him, which sparked the investigation against the actor.

Ola and Abel Osundairo, Jussie Smollett

Although the charges have been dropped, Smollett is now facing a $130,000 lawsuit from the city of Chicago which could get him booted from the show, according to reports.  If he fights the charges, a judge will have to determine if the attack really happened before he or she orders Smollett to pay. Ironically, if a judge decides the attack wasn’t real, that could be cause enough to get Smollett fired. If he loses and doesn’t pay, his wages could also be garnished.

Smollett maintained his innocence in a press conference shortly after charges were dropped.

"I am a man of faith, and I am a man that has knowledge of my history, and I would not bring my family, our lives, or the movement through a fire like this."

WATCH: Jussie Smollett speaks after charges against him are dropped. https://t.co/Id9kl0AfIa pic.twitter.com/lh8V8J7AHY

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 26, 2019

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