Is Jussie Smollett Really Leaving ‘Empire’? Producer Promises ‘Very Telling’ & ‘Shocking’ Finale [Spoilers]

Jussie Smollett is breaking his silence after his cryptic tweet suggesting that he could be leaving Empire following the Season 2 finale, and the show’s producers are revealing what’s in store for the big finale.

Jussie got candid about his recent social media message in a new interview with E! News, where Smollett played coy when it came to revealing exactly where the fate of the beloved Lyon brother lies after he took a bullet for his dad in the penultimate episode of Season 2.

Fans of the show were left in a spin after the episode aired on May 11. Jussie took to Twitter to hint that Jamal’s gun shot injury could end his life.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time [with Empire]. I love you all. Truth. Time 2 make a record & some movies #Empire,” Jussie tweeted out, which had Smollett’s fans speculating Jamal may not survive the shooting.

“I sent out a tweet and apparently it got fans spinning, that’s all I can tell you about that,” Smollett coyly admitted to E! News of his message, revealing that things will “all make sense” following Empire’s Season 2 finale airing on May 18.

Jussie continued, “Listen, I mean it’s all love and everything will, you know, all come together in the season finale and all will make sense,” before Smollett teased, “All of the questions will be answered, the holes will be filled, and the ribbons will be tied in a nice little bow” in Empire’s finale.

Jussie Smollett also spoke out about his cryptic social media message in another interview with Entertainment Tonight, where Jussie played just as coy about what his tweet meant.

Smollett wouldn’t admit if his tweet was confirmation of his Empire departure, but he did tell the site that whatever happens in the Season 2 finale, it’s “handled in a beautiful way.”

“It’s handled in a beautiful way,” Jussie told the site ahead of the big Empire finale, admitting that he believes, “there’s going to be tears and [there’s] also going to be a lot of happiness.”

“So you know, it’s okay,” Smollett continued of what could be his final Empire episode, admitting that fans had actually sent death threats to creator Lee Daniels over the shocking episode. “It’s going to be great. It’s a phenomenal finale and all questions are going to be answered Wednesday at 9/8 Central, only on Fox.”

But while Jussie Smollett is still playing coy about his cryptic tweet, Empire executive producer Ilene Chaiken confirmed to Spoilers Guide that Jamal’s injuries are, in fact, life threatening, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will end his life and Smollett will no longer be on the series.

“What happens next is about the consequences. Clearly, Jamal has been shot. It’s serious. It’s life-threatening,” the Empire producer admitted of Jussie’s character’s injuries.

“It happened because of everything that we’ve seen in the course of the season and all of the things that Lucious and Cookie have done, and the way they’ve lived their lives. It’s all coming back at them now,” Chaiken added of what could be Jussie Smollet’s final Empire episode.

Fellow Empire executive producer Sanaa Hamri is promising that Empire’s Season 2 finale is set to be “very telling” and “pretty shocking” but wouldn’t reveal if Jamal, and Smollett’s, fate extends into Empire’s upcoming third season.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal about the episode, titled “Past is Prologue,” Hamri revealed that the season finale will deal will not only deal with Smollet’s character but will also give fans an in-depth look at Lucious Lyon, played by Terrence Howard.

“By the time you finish the season finale, you will completely understand the truth and the deep spirit of what Lucious Lyon is,” Hamri said, confessing that the episode “is going to be very telling and pretty shocking.”

Do you think Jussie Smollett’s character Jamal was really killed off on Empire?

[Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images]