After a tumultuous exit from Fox's hit series "Empire," amidst a furor surrounding an allegedly fabricated attack, Jussie Smollett is making a triumphant return to the network, six years later. Smollett will grace the screens once more as a participant in Fox's upcoming competition show, "Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test," scheduled to air in the fall. The multifaceted talent, known for his acting prowess and musical skills, joins an elite group of eighteen celebrities who will embark on a series of grueling challenges inspired by military special forces training.
Joining Smollett in this high-stakes endeavor are an eclectic mix of personalities, including Kody Brown from TLC's "Sister Wives," Brittany Cartwright from Bravo's "The Valley," former NFL stars Randall Cobb, Eric Decker, and Andrew East, Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East, internet sensation Mark Estes, Gia and Teresa Giudice from "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," supermodel Chanel Iman, internet personality Brianna LaPaglia (aka Brianna Chickenfry), former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL player Johnny Manziel, model and actress Eva Marcille, Ravi V. Patel from Fox's "Animal Control," soccer legend Christie Pearce Rampone, and former NBA player Nick Young.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue to the cast are the familial bonds that weave through it. Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker share a marital union, as do Andrew East and Shawn Johnson East. Teresa Giudice and her daughter Gia Giudice also form part of this exceptional lineup.
From 2015 to 2019, Smollett captivated audiences with his performance in Fox's musical drama "Empire," spanning five seasons. However, his tenure came to an abrupt halt in January 2019 when he claimed to have been the victim of a homophobic attack orchestrated by two Black men in Chicago, where the show was filmed. The narrative took a dramatic turn when the alleged attackers claimed Smollett had hired them to stage the assault, leading to his arrest for filing a false police report. Though the charges were eventually dropped after Smollett paid a fine and performed community service, his character was written out of "Empire's" final season, despite his contract obligations.
In 2020, Smollett faced a second indictment by a special prosecutor and was convicted of five counts of felony disorderly conduct related to the filing of false reports in 2021. He served a brief stint of six days in jail before being released. Remarkably, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 2024, ruling that the second set of charges violated Smollett's due process rights.
Throughout the ordeal, Smollett has steadfastly maintained his innocence. He recently participated in a Netflix documentary titled "The Truth About Jussie Smollett?," premiering on August 22. Meanwhile, viewers can anticipate the thrilling premiere of "Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test" on Fox on September 25.
