Empire
Vivica A. Fox To Play Cookie's Oldest Sister On New Season Of EMPIRE!


Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Great casting new today out of the hit hip-hop sudser, Empire! EW.com is reporting that Vivica A. Fox has joined the cast for the second season, and will play Taraji P. Henson’s (Cookie) on-screen older sister! The character will come on to the canvas in search of her younger sis for reasons that are unknown.
Empire EP Ilene Chaiken noted on the arrival of Vivica A. Fox, “We’ve already met Cookie’s sister Carol (Tasha Smith), but Cookie’s other family members are troublesome to say the least.”
Look for Vivica to make her on-screen debut in her new TV role around the 8th episode of the new season. Empire returns on Wednesday night September 23rd at 9PMET.
As previously noted, Empire creator Lee Daniels has already expressed an interest in a spin-off about Cookie’s family. Could this be a test run for that featuring the oh-so-talented Vivica A. Fox? Stay tuned.
Daytime soap fans remember Fox from her roles on Generations, Days of our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and so many primetime and motion picture roles including: Kill Bill.
Do you think the casting of Vivica as Taraji’s older on-screen sister is brilliant casting? Looking forward to seeing Viv on Empire? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Empire
Jussie Smollett Releases New Rap Single ‘Thank You God’ Speaking On the Injustice of His Court Case

Now that former Empire star, Jussie Smollett (Ex-Jamal Lyon) is out of jail while appealing his conviction for the 2019 Chicago hate crime hoax, in which he was at the epicenter, the singer/actor wasted no time dropping a rap single.
On his Instagram account, Smollett posted a short clip of a new rap song, which speaks about his court case and the injustices brought down upon him by the system.
The track entitled,“Thank You God,” features Smollett rapping lyrics like: “You think I’m stupid enough to kill my reputation?” He also raps, that there will come a day when he can sit down and talk with his followers. He gives a mention to “D.L.” who many believe is CNN anchor, Don Lemon, who was originally one of Smollett’s main advocates.
Jussie served 10 days of jail time of his sentence of 150 days before being released . He also has 30 months of probation ahead of him and was ordered to pay $120,106 to the city of Chicago and a $25,000 fine for his actions.
Smollett says any funds raised for “Thank You God” will be donated to the Illinois Innocence Project, Rainbow Push, Secure The Bag Safety.
Check out Jussie’s Instagram post containing the rap below/
Now let us know, what do you think about Smollett releasing this track and still defending his innocence? Comment below.
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Breaking News
‘Empire’ Star, Jussie Smollett, Sentenced to 150 Days In Jail For Fake Hate Crime Attack

Late Thursday, former Empire actor and singer, Jussie Smollett, was sentenced in Chicago more than three months after being found guilty on five felony counts to the alleged 2019 hate crime hoax that made national headlines, and got the actor fired from the former Fox primetime drama series.
In the sentencing, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days starting immediately. In addition, he received 30 months’ probation, and has to pay the city of Chicago $120,106 in restitution, plus Jussie received an additional $25,000 fine.
Cook County Judge James Linn, who levied the sentence, came down hard in his words on Smollett due his actions noting he was, “selfish, arrogant and narcissistic.” The judge added, “You wanted to make yourself more famous throwing a national pity party for yourself. You’re just a charlatan, pretending to be the victim of a hate crime.”
Linn went in on Smollett for his ‘performance’ and ‘pure perjury’ when the actor took to the witness stand in his own defense last year.
At the end of his sentencing, Smollett pulled down his mask to speak. He then let everyone in the courtroom know that he feels he is innocent, adding, “Your honor, I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this. And I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that.”
Just before he was taken into custody, Smollett yelled again that he was innocent and raised a fist in the air as he exited.
Watch the sentencing of Jussie Smollett below, then weigh-in. Did Smollett get enough of a sentence for his crime? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
Empire
Ex-‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Found Guilty On Five Counts For Hate Crime Hoax

Jussie Smollett (Ex-Jamal Lyon) from Fox’s former primetime soap opera, Empire, was found guilty on Thursday on five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct stemming from making a false report to the Chicago police department that he was the victim of a hate crime.
The actor’s account of the story dates back to 2019 and finally made its way to the Chicago court system for trial.
In the end, a jury of six men and six women deliberated for more than nine hours Wednesday and today to return the verdict after sitting through testimonies of 13 witnesses.
According to reports, Smollett did not look at his family or the judge during the reading of the verdicts on the six counts he was charged instead he looked at the jury members.
Smollett could face up to 3 years in a prison and a $25,000 fine, Judge James Linn will have discretion in imposing a concurrent or consecutive sentence for each count. That will happen at a later date.
Special prosecutor Dan Webb said at a post-verdict news conference: “Mr. Smollett would not have lost this case as he did today unless the jury found that he lied to them. The fact that he came up with a completely ridiculous story to explain his misconduct did not apparently have an impact on the jury’s verdict.”
During the trial brothers, Bola and Ola Osundairo testified that Smollett had paid them to stage the hate crime attack on him in an attempt to get media attention. The brothers testified that they fake punched Smollett, poured bleach on him, put a noose around his neck and used racist and homophobic slurs, because Jussie told them to do so in return for the money.
According to Smollett’s defense team, they will appeal the verdict.
So, what do you think about the guilty verdict for Jussie Smollett? Comment below.
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Love Vivica. She was great on Celebrity Apprentice.
What role did she play on Days?
YES! YES! YES!
I have always loved “Vivica A. Fox” just saying her name is all that grand , on fire!
Nooopo!
I am totally against a spin-off about Cookie’s family. (cheesie)
That takes away from Empire, it just is not right.
NO SPIN OFF !!
AMEN…so NOT the drama…two seasons in and you already wanna start spinning off..Hanna/Barbera didn’t spin the gruesomes off the Flintstones..Barney and Betty didn’t get their own show..ALL YOKO COULD DO WAS PLAY THE BANJO…leave it alone you ego maniac and make this keep working…
well said:
“…leave it alone you ego maniac and make this keep working ”
do not…. do not ruin a good thing
Why is it that when a show becomes very popular, the powers that be immediately think “Spin Off?” Just stick with the original show and keep making that one better.
They’ve done some great new casting, but I don’t want to see the new characters spun into another show!
However, I’m now thinking that some of these new actors were promised said “new show” and that’s why they’ve signed on.