Jussie Smollett Unwelcome for Some at 'Empire' ... Several Cast Members Want Him Axed
EXCLUSIVE
Jussie Smollett[1] betrayed the trust of his "Empire" coworkers and damaged the show's image, and now several cast members want him written off immediately ... according to our sources.
We're told many of the "Empire" actors are "f**king furious" and feel if FOX honchos don't fire Jussie, he should quit on his own ... because he doesn't deserve a spot on the hit show.
The feelings of animosity stem from the fact everyone on set had Jussie's back after the "attack," but in light of the new evidence[2] police have laid out ... many of them feel hurt and embarrassed.
We're told almost everyone on set is worried about how Smollett's damaged the show's reputation[3] ... and could continue to do so if he remains part of the cast.
Now, our sources say there are still some cast and crew members who believe Jussie's telling the truth because they can't fathom him pulling off a hoax[4] like this. We're told arguments have erupted over how best to handle the situation.
It seems Smollett is well aware of the dissension on set. TMZ broke the story ... Jussie showed up on set Thursday after the madness outside the court and apologized to everyone[5], but insisted he's innocent.
We're told he's changed his number because certain pissed off cast members were blowing up his phone. He's only given his new number to the people still in his corner.
Jussie was arrested Thursday and is facing a felony charge[6]