Empire' Ratings , Like CNN Collapse To 'All-Time Low' After Criminal Charges Dropped Against Jussie Smollett Empire' Ratings , Like CNN Collapse To 'All-Time Low' After Criminal Charges Dropped Against Jussie Smollett He had been charged with 16 felonies Outrage erupted this week when the Cook County State's Attorney's Office announced it was dropping all charges against actor Jussie Smollett, who had been indicted on 16 felony counts in relation to allegedly orchestrating a hate crime hoax against himself. After the controversial announcement, ratings for "Empire," the FOX show on which Smollett starred, collapsed to an "all-time low." ( FULL STORY IN LINK BELOW ) https://www.theblaze.com/news/empire-ratings-collapse-jussie-smollett-charges-dropped