*The “Empire” season 4 finale ended with a proposal, a pregnancy, at least one death, and Jamal Lyon suggesting that the family walk away from Empire Entertainment.
“If you look at the growth of the young man in the coffee shop that we first met in the pilot episode, to where he is now and all the things that he’s been through in the last four seasons, it’s pretty incredible,” actor Jussie Smollett tells EUR/Electronic Urban Report about his character.
For the past four seasons, the award-winning singer/songwriter has played the middle son of the Lyon family, a talented gay artist who despises the corporate aspect of the music industry.
“He’s definitely going through growing pains, which also is what happens when you’re in your late 20’s, but he’s figuring it out. The good thing about Jamal is that he moves this way but always, somehow, makes his way back to center. There are certain sons that are more like each (parent) but he’s a complete hybrid of both Cookie and Lucious.”
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Which of Jamal’s story arc’s did you find most emotionally challenging to explore?
Jussie: Some of these scenes I’ve had to do with Terrance (Howard) as Jamal and Lucious. The scene where he grabs Jamal around the neck, right before Jamal gets shot and says “The day you die from AIDS, I’m gonna celebrate,” that was pretty hard to shoot. And also the one where they kind of forgave each other, when Lucious couldn’t remember. But honestly, the most emotionally satisfying and artistically satisfying has been, so far, the addiction and the PTSD because that didn’t just take soul-searching, that took actual research. That storyline, I wish it would have gone longer because I thought there’s so many places to take that. Even though we’re a glamorized show, it still felt real.
What was the fan reaction to that storyline?
Jussie: That storyline showed up and showed out and showed the fact that everybody can identify with being the underdog or being misjudged or people having a preconceived notion of who you are when they have no idea who you are. I think we all can identify with that. Also, our community, the black community, showed up and showed that we are much more open-minded than people try to paint this picture of us as.
Talk about the voice you believe Jamal, or specifically this series, gives the gay community.
Jussie: It’s a little bit egotistical to be in the show and say “Oh, yes… we’re doing this and we’re doing that.” But I do think art changes things. It opens up certain conversations and makes it easier for people to have them, no matter how difficult they may be. Artists create not to dictate what that art is supposed to mean. I think that’s what Empire has been able to do — not preach about things but instead just hold up a mirror and make you kinda see a little bit or a lot of yourself in each character, and I think that’s opened up a conversation.
I don’t want to get into the whole thing of “Oh, Empire is giving a voice to the gay community” because I think that would make it seem like we’re done, and we’re not. Empire is not the voice, it’s a voice. I want to see all types of stories from people of color, from members of the LGBTQ community… I want to see those stories not in just one voice because there are so many voices to who we are. So I’m humbled when people say Empire has kinda given a voice but I also think that we have so much more to do.
Smollett made his television directorial debut on the 16th episode of the fourth season entitled “Fair Terms,” and he described the process as “One of the greatest experiences and the most creatively satisfying.”
His real-life mirrors Jamal’s musical narrative in that both singers craft “very reflective” songs, but Smollett believes his character “might be a little bit more sensitive… he’s a brat.”
“I definitely relate to his creativity. I always say that we’re similar in our sense of loyalty but Jamal’s had a lot handed to him and I think that there might be a certain level of understanding of work that he lacks that I don’t. I will do it anytime, anyplace, anyway that it has to be done to get it done.”
Smollett’s latest album, “Sum of My Music,” is an effort “that’s been made with love,” he tells us, “and it’s something I’ve been wanting to get out there for quite some time now.”
Continuing: “For me, naming it Sum of My Music, I feel like one of these brothas hustling on the corner like, “Yo, check out my music!” I’m a very open person and I’m a very positive person and the music is a way to open up a little bit more, and that’s really special.”
WATCH:
Smollett says the message he hopes “people take away from every single thing that I do is love.”
“We’re in such a time that is steering us away from love and steering us away from community and pride and inclusion and cultural celebration. This is a time to yell as loud as you can in frustration and anger and it’s also a time to yell as loud as you can in celebration.”
If you missed “Empire” this season, get caught up at fox.com.
On May 2, Fox renewed the series for a fifth season with Brett Mahoney taking over as showrunner from Ilene Chaiken.
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