Did President Obama make a cameo appearance on Empire?
Fans and critics of the hit Fox television series were probably taken aback during Wednesday night’s episode when President Obama seemed to make a cameo appearance over the phone.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Lucious Lyons (played by Terrence Howard ) appeared to accept a call from the President of the United States . The President was responding to controversial comments that were made by Lyons’ youngest son, Hakeem (played by Bryshere Gray) about Obama being a sellout.
A video filmed and posted by one of Hakeem’s friends was posted online and went viral, generating a considerable amount of press and negative backlash.
The President’s voice was not heard on the other end of the phone, but Terrence Howard delivered a convincing performance to make it seem as if he was actually talking to someone.
In character as Lucious Lyons, Howard even made a comment letting President Obama know that he did not have to “use that kind of language” shortly before the President abruptly hung up the phone.
Dead at Obama hanging up on Lucius #Empire pic.twitter.com/wuJ3c4MNuS
— Zach S (@YeahImFamous) January 15, 2015
If you saw the episode, you know that President Obama did not make a cameo appearance on the show at all. His name was just mentioned briefly in Wednesday night’s episode the same way that it was mentioned briefly during last week’s pilot episode as Lucious’ assistant reviewed his messages with him.
However, the scripted phone call was all that was needed for quite a few people to start talking about it on Twitter. Some people found it to be hilarious.
“Come on Barack?!” LMAOOOOOOOOOOO He on direct lines with Obama huh? I’m DEAD! #Empire — Keem Da Dream (@keem773) January 15, 2015
On the other hand, there were many more people that did not like it at all.
Plz dont exaggerate Obama’s relationships with hiphop moguls, just because he let Beyonce sing & listens to ONE of Jay Zs songs #empire
— Quentin (@AvenueSwank) January 15, 2015
They really went all the way with this Obama storyline. Phone calls and all #Empire — KelaWalker (@KelaWalker) January 15, 2015
Only on FOX would they promote a young black kid saying Obama is a sellout! SMH! #Empire
— Chef Kim (@_LibraFlowerBom) January 15, 2015
Who really approved that scene for Empire? Almost enough for me to change the channel… Leave Obama out of this — Nigel Int’l D. (@Nigel_D) January 15, 2015
This is definitely not the first time that President Obama has been referenced on a television show in one way or another. However, many people (based on Twitter responses) seem to feel as if this particular reference may have crossed the line.
What did you think about President Obama being used in this week’s episode of Empire ?
[Image Credit: Washington Post & Post-Gazette ]
