(CNN) The co-creator of "Empire" television series said he's "beyond embarrassed" by the Jussie Smollett scandal, and had to cut off communication with the actor after he allegedly staged a hate crime.

In an interview with Vulture published Tuesday , Lee Daniels was asked about Smollett claiming he was the victim of a hate crime that Chicago police said he allegedly staged.

Smollett was written out of the final episodes of the show's fifth season following allegations he faked a hate crime against himself in January. Daniels said he views Smollett like a son, and was "beyond embarrassed" after he initially supported him.

"I think that when it happened, I had a flash of me running from bullies. I had a flash of my whole life, of my childhood, my youth, getting beaten," he told Vulture.

He said he was "too busy putting out fires" to keep up with coverage on the case, and had to stop communicating with the actor.

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