You would think staging a hate crime hoax and bringing shame to your place of employment would be enough for colleagues to shun you. But not if you're Jussie Smollett (see Chicago to Pursue Civil Action Against Douchenozzle Jussie Smollett and Chris Rock Uses Awards Show Speech to Mock Jussie Smollett). His Empire costars are demanding he be brought back to the show. And wrote a sternly worded letter saying so.

In a letter to various networks, studio and show executives, which was first reported on by Deadline, six leading Empire stars went to bat for Smollett, who recently had 16 felony charges against him — for allegedly faking...

I know we have to say "allegedly" because he wasn't convicted. But allegedly my ass.

...a homophobic and racist attack on himself — dropped. The actors, Terrence Howard, Taraji P Henson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Trai Byers, Gabourey Sidibe, and Nicole Ari Parker all asked for Smollett to be brought back. “Together, as a united front, we stand with Jussie Smollett and ask that our co-star, brother and friend be brought back for our sixth season of Empire,” the cast members wrote. The actors gave a glowing testimonial to Smollett — lauding him as a man of integrity.

Keep this in mind when people bring up Hollywood values. These are the same people who demanded Roseanne Barr be tarred and feathered for getting high and making fun of Valerie Jarrett. Specifically her haircut. Then you have Jussie Smollett. Who faked a hate crime. Claimed he was the victim of both a racist and homophobic act. And set off a media circus that tried to hold half the country responsible for the hoax. That's not even including the police man hours invested into trying to get to the bottom of his supposed hate crime. Yet HE'S someone who is full of integrity and honesty?!

There apparently really is no business like show business.