A deadline is impending for the “Empire” star Jussie Smollett to pay more than $130,000 to Chicago for investigative costs into what city authorities say was a staged racist, anti-gay attack or risk getting served with a civil lawsuit.

Thursday will mark the seventh day since Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s law chief sent the “Empire” actor a letter demanding payment. The March 28 letter said he must pay within seven days but didn’t mention what will happen if he fails to comply.

Nonpayment will likely prompt the city to sue Smollett, prompting a civil trial where standards for proving he staged the incident will be lower than in criminal court

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