Jussie Smollett: Kathy Griffin, Taraji P Henson and more react after charges dropped against Empire actor

All charges against the actor have been unexpectedly dropped, after he was accused of staging a hate attack against himself.

The entertainment world has weighed in after all charges against Jussie Smollett were unexpectedly dropped.

The Empire actor had been suspected of lying to police about being the victim of a racist, homophobic attack. Smollett’s legal team said his record has now “been wiped clean”.

“I’m happy that the truth has finally been set free, because I knew it all along,” Taraji P Henson, Smollett’s Empire co-star, told USA Today. “We’re all happy for him, and thank God the truth prevailed.”

“I’m not going to jump on clickbait just because someone says something derogatory about a person I know and love,” she added. “I’m not easily swayed like that. Those little clickbait [reports] weren’t enough to deter me from his immaculate track record. I know the type of activism this young man does in his community, I know that he’s a giver – he’s not an attention-seeker.”

The actor had been indicted on 16 felony counts of making a false report after telling authorities he was assaulted.

He told police in his initial report in January that two masked men shouted racial and anti-gay slurs, poured bleach on him, beat him and looped a rope around his neck.

Smollett also claimed they shouted, “This is Maga country” – a reference to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.

The prosecutor’s office offered no detailed explanation as to why the charges were dropped.

In a statement, they said: “After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the city of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case. We stand by the Chicago Police Department’s investigation and our decision to approve charges in this case.”

“OK I’m just going to make my pitch to @leedanielsent right now. Let Jussie return, but have his character confront a new character who did what he allegedly did. Come on Lee, pull a little 'law and order' action on Empire,” comedian Kathy Griffin wrote on Twitter.

Gabourey Sidibe, who also stars on Empire, wrote in a post on Instagram: “It’s weird that y’all decided that the police were being 100% honest about this case.” The Roots frontman QuestLove tweeted: “TOLD YALL.”

The official account for Empire‘s writers posted a screenshot of CNN’s report on Smollett, accompanied by the text: “See y’all Wednesday.”

"Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified that all charges against him have been dismissed," Chris Alexander, a spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television and the Fox Entertainment, said in a statement.