Writer and co-creator of Fox’s hit show, Empire, Danny Strong went on Sway in the Morning to discuss the show and the inspiration behind the show’s main character.
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Sway asked Strong about the backlash the show receives due to the negative image of African Americans that is sometimes portrayed on the show.
That’s when Strong revealed that the character Lucious Lyon, a former drug dealer played by Terrence Howard, is somewhat based off of rapper Jay Z.
“The Jay Z story, which very much inspired Lucious Lyon, certain elements of Lucious Lyon, was that story,” Strong said.
He added that because of “certain negative stereotypes” he has to be careful of certain things.
“I view it as, The entire cast is African-American, we’re gonna have all different types of characters, and we’re gonna tell good stories,” he added. “We’re not gonna sit here and play defense or think that our show is a representation as Black culture in its entirety. It’s not; it’s just this story.”
Strong sees the show as an “American Dream” story because it shows how many people in America rise to power. He says people with a criminal or “gangster” past applies to so many different cultures and is not just “limited to black culture.”
Strong, who also wrote The Butler added that Empire also got a little of its inspiration from the Kennedys, Complex reports.
Image Courtesy of INFphoto.com
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