Jussie Smollett addressed Lee Daniels’ recent comments on their relationship, in which the Empire creator labeled it, “complicated,” during an appearance on The Breakfast Club. Speaking with TMZ in New York City on Friday in honor of the release of his new film, The Lost Holliday, Smollett explained that he is always going to be on good terms with Daniels despite their disagreements.
“I talk to Lee often. It’s something that– I love Lee very much, but here’s the thing, I don’t talk about it. Lee is somebody that I love,” Smollett said. “He gave me an opportunity that I’ll always be grateful for, but at the same time, it’s a relationship that’s really important to me, so I don’t feel the need to mediate that in the public.” He added: “Lee is also a little bit more of an open book, so he’ll say things, but I love him so much. And, he knows that. We’re always gonna be good.”
Jussie Smollett Speaks During Lee Daniels’ Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremony
HOLLYWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 02: Lee Daniels and Jussie Smollett attend the ceremony honoring Lee Daniels with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 2, 2016, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/WireImage)
The drama surrounds Daniels’ comments about Smollett’s infamous staging of a hate crime against himself in Chicago in 2019. “That whole situation was complicated,” Daniels said, last month. “I still don’t know what to believe. Honestly, I don’t know what to believe. People say he didn’t do it, he did do it. God bless him on his journey.” Despite that remark, he also said that he’d still be willing to work with Smollett again. “I’d cast him in something,” he clarified. “He was a son to me. And he also represented me. And he also represented the movement that I tried to start, which I didn’t know I was starting. I was so busy, worried about Cookie’s hat and the music that we were playing [on Empire], this was before Insecure, this was before Black Panther. We started it. I was so worried about getting everything right that I didn’t know what was happening in the zeitgeist.”
Jussie Smollett Discusses Lee Daniels
Check out Smollet’s full comments on his relationship with Daniels below. The Lost Holliday is in theaters now. Be on the lookout for further updates on Jussie Smollett and Lee Daniels on HotNewHipHop.
Lee Daniels is no stranger to controversy. The director has built his career on making bold onscreen choices, and defending them regardless of the pushback. The Deliverance, Daniels’ first foray into the horror genre, is a prime example. A character by the name of Alberta, played by Glenn Close, has been diving fans and critics. That said, Lee Daniels’ comments about Alberta, proved even more polarizing on Twitter.
The director claimed that Alberta was a type of person who is present in the lives of every African American. “Every Black person knows an Alberta,” Daniels asserted. “She’s part of the fabric of our community, but we’ve never seen her onscreen before.” The director then praised Oscar nominee Close for her fearless portrayal of the character. “Thank you Glenn for bringing her magnificently to life.” The Deliverance has been critically panned on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 30% score, but it was Lee Daniels’ broad comments that rubbed fans the wrong way.
Many Twitter users felt that Daniels was generalizing the African American experience. Others felt that the director was speaking for them with an authority that he does not have. “There is literally no scenario ever where a non-black person is the actual fabric of a black community,” one incensed user wrote. Lee Daniels’ use of the phrase “fabric of the black community” seemed to be the breaking point. A second user was less irate, but still noted that the director was exaggerated. “The fabric of our community is doing a lot,” they asserted. “I’ve never seen or met anyone like [Alberta] in my life.”
The criticism snowballed when fans did research into the real family that inspired The Deliverance. Glenn Close’s Alberta is obviously white, but the real grandmother she’s based on was African American. This did not sit well with viewers. The grandma is black,” one baffled user tweeted. “Lee Daniels is the actual villain.” The general consensus is that Daniels’ framing of Alberta as being an authentic depiction, while actual being an instance of whitewashing, is not worth praising. Plain and simple, regardless of what the director says.
Netflix unveiled the gripping trailer for Lee Daniels‘ latest film, The Deliverance. This genre-defying thriller promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Starring an impressive ensemble cast including Mo’Nique, Andra Day, and Omar Epps, the film delves into a family’s chilling and tumultuous journey fighting for their survival against unseen forces.
Inspired by a true story, The Deliverance follows Ebony Jackson, portrayed by Andra Day, a struggling single mother who is desperately seeking a fresh start. Moving her family into a new home, Ebony hopes to leave behind her personal demons and offer her children a better life. However, the seemingly peaceful new beginning quickly turns into a nightmare as strange and unexplainable occurrences begin to unfold within the house.
These eerie happenings catch the attention of Child Protective Services, threatening to tear Ebony’s family apart. As the pressure mounts and the stakes grow higher, Ebony finds herself in a harrowing battle for her life and the souls of her children. The film explores themes of darkness, possession, and the power of faith in overcoming unimaginable adversity.
Daniels, known for his masterful storytelling and critically acclaimed works, brings a unique and chilling perspective to this supernatural thriller. The Oscar-award-winning director seamlessly blends elements of horror, drama, and the supernatural, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying.
Mo’Nique’s return to the screen is highly anticipated, with her reunion with Daniels already generating buzz. Daniels ended their 13-year feud in April 2022 by delivering a heartfelt apology to Mo’nique during her comedy show at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, New York. Their relationship strained for a number of reasons including financial disputes for her compensation in the Academy Award winning film, accusations of blackballing and mislabeling her as difficult. But now The Parkers star is joining the cast of Daniels’ upcoming Netflix film alongside Glenn Close and the talented Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. Each actor brings depth and nuance to their roles, contributing to the film’s intense and haunting atmosphere.
The Deliverance is not just a tale of supernatural terror; it is a story of resilience, the power of a mother’s love, and the strength found in confronting one’s deepest fears. As Ebony navigates the malevolent forces threatening her family, she discovers an inner strength and a higher power that guides her through the darkness.
The film’s trailer hints at the spine-chilling and emotionally charged journey that awaits viewers. With its haunting visuals, powerful performances, and Lee Daniels’ visionary direction, The Deliverance is set to be a standout film in Netflix’s lineup.
Prepare to be captivated by The Deliverance when it premieres on Netflix. This haunting tale of survival, faith, and the supernatural is one you won’t want to miss.
Whelp, there’s nothing like a good ol’ revival of a popular show, and as reported in Blex Media, Lee Daniels is hard at work to bring Star back on television, where it belongs. So here’s how it wall went down, Blex Media and good reporting by the way, stated that Daniels posted a comment onto an Instagram post from @Iamzoie who wrote in part, “I NEED STAR BACK BECAUSE BAYYYYYY THE WAY I WAS INVESTED[.]”
Then Daniels commented, “Love you for this. It is being written. I appreciate everybody’s love! It’s just taken me FOREVER cause I have other projects…It’s crazy, I had NO IDEA when I created this show the response would be like this. #grateful.”
ICYMI, Star was in the same ballpark as Empire in the music industry. The original series debuted in 2016 and follows three young women who form a group in Atlanta and navigate the music business on their road to success. The series starred Miss Lawrence, Luke James, Lance Gross, Benjamin Bratt, Evan Ross, William Levy, and Brandy. Star was canceled after only three seasons in 2019 but made an impression with a strong fanbase. Back when it got canceled, Daniels supposedly wanted to “wrap up all the loose ends in a television movie,” and as reported by Variety, said, “We’re going to make something real special for you to scream about, with all of our cast members–even the dead ones.”
Well, let’s see how this all shapes up now that Daniels is ramping up interest again. Stay tuned.
The imprint that Lee Daniels has made on entertainment is a lesson in climbing the ranks to the top. The director, producer, and screenwriter once owned a nursing agency specializing in helping people living with AIDS and HIV. However, once he met a producer making moves in the industry, Daniels set forth a new career. The hard work paid off because these days, he’s hailed as a leader in Black cinematography.
The award-winning filmmaker has taken over the silver and small screens, stacking awards with each new production. Empire was a hit on television, while films like Precious and The Butler sparked cultural conversations. Here, we’re looking at seven of Lee Daniels’s best projects in no particular order. Is your favorite on the list?
The Butler (2013)
Lee Daniels’ The Butler remains one of his most critically acclaimed works. The film stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, a butler in the White House. His character witnessed the terms of several Presidents, spanning decades. Daniels based his film on an article Wil Haygood wrote for The Washington Post called “A Butler Well Served by This Election” about the real-life White House butler Eugene Allen. The star-studded cast included the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, Mariah Carey, Cuba Gooding Jr., and many more notable names. It went on to win several accolades, including an NAACP Image Award.
The Wonder Years (2021)
The Wonder Years is the most recent show Lee Daniels has produced. This remake debuted in 2021 and takes the plot from the original series, changing some major aspects. This time, the family is Black and lives in Montgomery, Alabama, in the 1960s. The show’s events are seen from the perspective of 12-year-old Dean, whose internal thoughts and narration are done by Don Cheadle.
Producers Lee Daniels and Saladin K. Patterson created the show to depict “a thriving, middle-class Black family of that era.” The episodes are overall comedic, yet still provide insight and commentary on race, gender, politics, class, religion, and other societal topics. In an interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Daniels shared he initially did not want to produce it because he was worried he would mess it up. However, Patterson’s writing kick-started his confidence.
Concrete Cowboy (2020)
Concrete Cowboy was produced by Lee Daniels and stars Caleb McLaughlin, Idris Elba, Clifford “Method Man” Smith Jr., and more. The film takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and tells the story of a father and son growing closer through their involvement in the horse-riding community. Director and co-writer Ricky Staub shared how his inspiration to create the movie came from researching the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club and reading Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri. Daniels co-produced the movie and praised it as a “…light in the midst of all this darkness…” at the film’s drive-in screening. The movie highlights the struggles members of the Fletcher Street Riding Club dealt with and features members of the organization.
Empire (2015)
Empire was co-executive produced by Lee Daniels and had two acting titans in its lead roles: Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Daniels’ name in the industry played a role in casting them. The series follows the Lyon family as they fight to gain control over Empire Entertainment as Howard’s character, Lucious Lyon, learns he is dying. Empire was a monumental success, with the Season One premiere bringing in 10 million viewers. Further, its finale brought in 17 million viewers. Like most music-centric shows, the series also featured multiple performances. Additionally, production released these songs on streaming services every season. Unfortunately, the series ended primarily because of the legal situation of one of its stars, Jussie Smollett.
Precious (2009)
This film finds Daniels in both the director and co-producer roles. He adapted his movie from a book called Push by Sapphire. In an article via Entertainment Weekly, Daniels shared he fired several members of his original crew after 20 days of shooting the movie. He said several of them did not respect him, and his director of photography could not light star Gabourey Sidibe’s skin accurately. These changes were a key part of the movie’s success. It was a hit at two film festivals, and moguls Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey signed on as producers. The film received multiple Academy Award nominations, and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He was the first Black screenwriter to succeed in this category. Moreover, Mo’Nique took home the Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Star (2016)
Lee Daniels ventured into the music industry for the second time in this series. He co-created Star with Tom Donaghy, and the series follows a girl group as they navigate the industry while dealing with personal struggles. Multiple notable actors have appeared on the show, adding the power of Daniels’ name in the entertainment world. However, Star did not reach the same critical success as Empire, and FOX canceled it after three seasons. Audiences created a GoFundMe page to bring the show back. Daniels heard their cries and tried to shop the series to various other networks like BET. After unsuccessful attempts, he shared that a two-hour movie was in the works to end the series.
Monster’s Ball (2001)
This movie is from further back in Daniels’s filmography, but some may say it’s what got him where he is today. When tackling Monster’s Ball, Daniels lacked experience in the industry. He was adamant about making the movie the way he wanted it to be even though he wasn’t the director. However, the experience helped him realize he could direct, and that’s what he went on to do. This was the first film he ever produced and was a critical success. Lead actress Halle Berry won an Academy Award for Best Actress and is still the only Black woman to receive this award.
She’s back on track after allegedly being blackballed by the industry, and Mo’Nique is demanding her recompense. For years, Mo’Nique has been open about the tension involving Tyler Perry, Lee Daniels, and Oprah Winfrey. She claims she was tagged with the reputation of being difficult to deal with and insisted the trio was behind a plot to stifle her career. There has been silence from Winfrey’s camp, and Perry seemed to acknowledge Mo’Nique’s criticisms. Eventually, Daniels emerged with a public apology and interrupted one of Mo’Nique’s shows to deliver.
After mending past rifts, Daniels cast the Oscar-winning actress in BET+’s The Reading. The pair, who also worked on Precious together, caught up with The Hollywood Reporter and detailed their reunion. “Not only did I want to reach out to her, but I realized I wanted to work with her again. It’s crazy, sometimes, how life is.” When he called, it had been 13 years since Mo’Nique spoke with him. Daniels had been editing a film that Mo’Nique worked on years prior, and it reminded him of how talented she was.
Mo’Nique and Lee Daniels Come To Terms
Lee Daniels, Academy Award-nominated Producer/Director, and Mo’Nique, Academy Award-winning actor, pose for a photo at the 14th Annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner at the Washington Convention Center on October 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/WireImage)
“He was like, ‘OK, so I want to talk to you about this part.’ I said, ‘Lee, we can’t talk about a part until we talk.’ And he was like, ‘I know.’ And then we had a real conversation. That was the moment that he said, ‘I’m going to apologize to you and your family for anything I’ve done to hurt y’all.’” He decided to do it on a public platform that would undoubtedly be recorded and shared with the world. “There was no way that I was not going to apologize for anything that she thought that I did to her.”
“I don’t know if it’s ever been done in history — that a big Hollywood director came out and apologized to an actress for a wrongdoing,” said Mo’Nique. Daniels added, “I’m just happy to have my friend back.” However, the actress still “demands” an apology from Winfrey and Perry. She also touched on her beef with D.L. Hughley that erupted after she claimed he was upset about her receiving equal top billing at a comedy show. Amid the controversy, and after mentioning the abuse Hughley’s daughter endured, Mo’Nique stood by her comments.
After 13 years of not speaking to his former best friend and comedian Mo’Nique, Lee Daniels finally apologized to her for his role in making her a Hollywood pariah. 50 Cent made it all happen. Lee Daniels And Mo’Nique On Good Terms Actor and comedian Mo’nique has ended a 13-year feud with director Lee Daniels […]
