Jussie Smollett has been suspended from the TV show Empire over allegations that he lied about being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack.

The actor claims he was physically assaulted by two men in Chicago, who also shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him.

However, he has been accused by police of staging the attack due to dissatisfaction with his salary.

He is alleged to have signed a cheque agreeing to pay the men to carry out the assault, and to have sent a threatening letter to himself at the studio where Empire is filmed.

Smollett was arrested and charged yesterday, and his character will not appear in the final two episodes of Empire's current season.

Pat Fitzpatrick and Laura O'Mahony discussed this story and more in The Week Trending.