'Empire' Star Jussie Smollett Has Been Cleared: Everything We Know About His Alleged Hate Crime

Two months afterJussie Smollettreported that he was the victim of an apparent hate crime in Chicago and one month after he was indicted on16 counts of disorderly conduct for making false reports, all charges against him have been dropped. It’s a stunning turn in the investigation into whether Smollett, who is black and gay, orchestrated the attack on himself. Here’s a timeline of everything we know about the case. Jan. 29 The Chicago Police Department confirmed in a statement that anEmpireactor was involved in a“racially-charged assault and battery”at around 2 a....

March 16, 2025 · 9 min · 1882 words · Anthony Black

'Empire' Star Jussie Smollett Hospitalized as Police Investigate Apparent Hate Crime

EmpirestarJussie Smollettwas transported to the hospital after he was the victim of an apparent hate crime Tuesday around 2 a.m. in Chicago. TMZ first reportedthe news. The Chicago Police Department confirmed in a statement that a member of the hit Fox show was involved in a “racially-charged assault and battery,” though they did not name Smollett. The statement adds that the victim transported himself to Northwestern Hospital and is in “good condition....

March 16, 2025 · 3 min · 524 words · Steven Johns

'Empire' Star Jussie Smollett Sentenced to 150 Days in County Jail for Staging Hate Crime, Lying to Authorities

Prior to walking into Cook County Judge James Linn’s courtroom, the 39-year-old actor — known for his portrayal of musical artist Jamal Lyon onEmpire— was looking at several possible sentences in connection with the Jan. 29, 2019, incident. At Linn’s discretion, Smollett received 30 months of felony probation, with the first 150 days spent in jail, for his crimes, PEOPLE confirms. For more on Jussie Smollettbeing sentenced to jail, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day....

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 319 words · Harold Alexander

'Empire' Star Kaitlin Doubleday Welcomes Baby Boy

Hey, it’s Franklin! Her sister, Portia Doubleday, revealed the newson Instagramon Tuesday evening. Doubleday and Lucien have not yet posted the news on their own social media accounts, though theEmpirestar commented on her sister’s post, writing, “Wow he’s delicious looking!” Reps for Doubleday did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. TheEmpireandNashvillestar announced the news of her pregnancy on Instagram in October. “Wow, it feels pretty official now that it’s on social media 😮 I can’t believe Im gonna be someone’s mom,” she said....

March 16, 2025 · 1 min · 145 words · Melinda Meza

'Empire' Star Taraji P. Henson Announces 2-Day Mental Health Summit: 'This Is a National Crisis'

Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for STX Films Taraji P. Hensonwants to normalize the conversation of mental illness in the African-American community. TheEmpirestar, who has been open abouther own struggles with depression and anxiety, announced Thursday that her Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation will host a two-day mental health summit next month. The inaugural“Can We Talk?” conferenceand benefit dinner will take place on June 7-9 in Washington, D.C. The summit will provide attendees with an opportunity to engage with notable mental health experts, policy-makers and thought leaders to focus on strategies to end the mental health stigma and help community members in need....

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 394 words · Stephanie Wilcox

'Empire' Star Vivica A. Fox Loves 'How Harry Protects' Meghan Markle from the Tabloids

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March 16, 2025 · 1 min · 16 words · Lisa Bryant

'Empire' Will End After Season 6, Still 'No Plans' for Jussie Smollett's Return

Last month, Fox announced that the series had beenrenewed for a sixth season— and on Monday, the network announced that the new season, premiering this fall, will be the last. According to a press release, the final season “promises to be filled with drama, shocking surprises and more jaw-dropping moments.” During a press conference call, Fox entertainment president Michael Thorn said the final season would be “a large television event.”...

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 385 words · Andrew Maldonado

'Encanto' 's 'Bruno' Singer Carolina Gaitán 'Cannot Stop Celebrating' the Movie and Hit Song's Success

Star of Encanto Carolina Gaitán.Photo: Andrés Oyuela Turns out the stars ofEncantoare just as obsessed with the Disney hit as fans are. Carolina Gaitán, 37, who voices Pepa Madrigal in the family musical, tells PEOPLE she’s “so happy and grateful to be involved in such a big and beautiful masterpiece.'” “All of the Latino community is being represented in the most beautiful way — our food, music, dancing, multi race, multi ways of being, the multi possibilities, that is exactly how we are,” she says....

March 16, 2025 · 3 min · 533 words · Amanda Ortega

'Encanto' Becomes First Soundtrack to Reach No. 1 on 'Billboard' 200 Chart in 2 Years, Beating Adele

Photo: Disney Fans can’t get enough ofEncanto’s catchy songs. The Disney animated film debuted in theaters on Nov. 24 before becoming available to stream on Disney+ a month later on Dec. 24. With songs fromLin-Manuel Miranda(thinkHamiltonandMoana’s irresistible tunes), theEncantosoundtrack has now become the first soundtrack to reach No. 1 on theBillboard200 chartssince another Disney movie,Frozen II, did back in December 2019. It displacedAdele’s30for the top spot after her album held No....

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 224 words · Melissa Martin

'Encanto' Headed Back to Theaters After Streaming Success and Oscar Nominations

Encantoearnedthree Oscar nominations, as well: Best Animated Film, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song for “Dos Oruguitas.” Itwon best animated filmat the Golden Globes. Recently speaking withE! NewsaboutEncanto, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created songs for the film, said he couldenvision a Broadway musical adaptationof the family movie. “I think it weirdly lends itself well,” he told the outlet. “They don’t always, you know? Like, I can’t picture aMoanaBroadway musical. I don’t know how you’d do the ocean,” he said, adding, “My first draft of the last song in the movie, ‘All of You,’ was like seven minutes long....

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 290 words · Stanley Cox

'Encanto' Song 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' Becomes Second Disney Track to Top 'Billboard' Hot 100

Photo: Disney Disney’sEncantois continuing to impress. The animated film’s hit song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has surpassed another huge milestone, making it to the top of theBillboardHot 100, the outletannouncedMonday. It’s only the second Disney animated film to achieve the feat, after “A Whole New World” from 1992’sAladdin. Miranda, 42, previously told PEOPLE hewasn’t expecting the song’s success. “I’m surprised it’s ‘Bruno,'” he said this month. TheHamiltoncreator noted that the only child who isn’t in love with the tune is his son Sebastian, 7, whom he shares with wife Vanessa Nadal....

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 217 words · Danielle Miller

'Encanto' Song 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' Outperforms 'Frozen' Hit 'Let It Go' on 'Billboard' Charts

The music of Disney’sEncantois on a roll. On Tuesday,Billboardreportedthe tracking on its Hot 100 song chart, finding the animated film’s song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” landing at a new peak, No. 4. The track has now outperformed 2013’sFrozenand its massive hit “Let It Go,” which topped out at No. 5 on the chart in its heyday. Idina Menzel performed that Oscar-winning tune. According toBillboard,Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is now the highest-charting Disney song since 1995 when Vanessa Williams' “Colors of the Wind” fromPocahontasreached No....

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 279 words · Shawn Glover

'Encanto' Wins Best Animated Movie at 2022 Oscars as Director Thanks the 'Entire Country of Colombia'

Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty TheOscarswant to talk aboutEncanto! At the 94th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, the Colombia-set Disney movie — known for its record-breaking ear-worm songs like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” — won Best Animated Feature. Producer Yvett Merino said in her speech, “I am so proud to be a part of a film that puts beautiful, diverse characters in front and center, and that people everywhere are seeing themselves in the film....

March 16, 2025 · 2 min · 227 words · Cameron Ruiz