Lee Daniels Clarifies Comments on Empire Experience

Lee Daniels has retracted his previous comments about his time on the hit series 'Empire', which he initially described as 'the worst experience.' During an interview on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM show, he clarified that his struggles stemmed from adapting to studio oversight after years of independent filmmaking, where he was accustomed to not receiving notes. Daniels acknowledged the challenges of working within a studio system but also recognized the positive outcomes, including the financial benefits that allowed him to support his children's education. He emphasized that the experience was ultimately transformative and contributed to the growth of Black representation in television. Although he described the early phases of production as a nightmare, he concluded that the overall experience became rewarding as the show progressed. 'Empire' aired from 2015 to 2020 and was a landmark series for its portrayal of Black culture and success in the entertainment industry.