The ratings for the first 'Empire' episode to air after actor Jussie Smollett's arrest dropped significantly.
Ratings for Fox's"Empire" dropped dramatically when the show returned from a hiatus on Wednesday. It was the first new episode to air following actor Jussie Smollett's arrest.
The episode was viewed by 4 million people, according to Nielsen. That's down 13% from the last episode in December, and 35% from the comparable premiere last year. Chicago police said Smollett staged an assault as a publicity stunt. He turned himself in last month.The show's first new episode to air after Smollett's arrest dropped significantly in ratings. The Fox series returned after a winter hiatus on Wednesday to 4.412 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
It's a drop from the last episode in December which reeled in 5.043 million viewers , but a big drop from last year's comparable premiere, which had 6.2 million viewers , according toSmollett, who has a supporting role on the show as Jamal Lyon, claimed earlier this year that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault.
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