Jussie Smollett's always cool with Lee Daniels ... saying he appreciates the director giving him his big break -- and, he'd rather keep their relationship private.
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00:00Welcome back to TMZ live and welcome back to Hollywood Jussie Smollett. Maybe maybe
00:05We always say got a couple of obstacles still. It's a couple. Yes, there's a some legal
00:11Maneuvering's that need to be completed in the state of Illinois
00:15But in the meantime, Jussie Smollett is getting back to work and he actually
00:20Directed a movie that came out this weekend and limited release called the lost holiday
00:24We're gonna get to the movie in just a moment, but we actually happen to catch up with him in New York
00:29Outside of a movie theater, but we talked to him about some comments Lee Daniels the creator of Empire
00:36some things that Lee Daniels said recently when he's on The Breakfast Club where he certainly made it sound like
00:43He doesn't talk to Jussie anymore and that the relationship has really been
00:48Ruined by everything that happened with the crew. Oh, yeah, right
00:52This is what Jussie had to say about his relationship with Lee a little bit different from Lee's version. Mr
00:58Daniels, you know
01:00Made some comments
01:01Have you guys spoken since he you know was I talked to Lee often, you know
01:06But it's it's it's something that I love Lee very much, but it's it's it's I love him very much
01:11I felt like Lee was acting like he ain't talk to you, but he did
01:15Here's the thing. It's like we I don't talk about it. You know, he is somebody that I love to give me an opportunity
01:22It's a relationship that's really important to me
01:24I don't feel the need to mediate that with the public. Lee is also open a little bit more of an open book
01:29So he'll say things, you know, I love him so much. He knows that I know that you guys are good
01:34We're always gonna be good
01:37Interesting. Hmm. That's actually really interesting. I think it's pretty fascinating that he said Lee is an open book
01:42That was the one element that it sounds like he's not so happy that Lee was doing this publicly and he wants to keep their
01:48Relationship sort of a private matter, right?
01:51Yeah, well
01:52definitely has a different approach but also he seems to have it it's not the tone of what Lee Daniels was saying Lee Daniels almost
01:58Seemed like they were on the outs and he's like, no, we're good
02:01But I just don't like talking about it and we don't know so what the reality is here except he does say that he's spoken
02:09He's spoken with him regularly
02:12Vivica a Fox is a different story. She is totally behind him
02:15Yes, because she is his co-star in the new movie The Lost Holiday and this is what she had to say about the project
02:24Basically, she's saying you're gonna be seeing a lot more of Jussie. Do you think that audiences will be able to see it for the art?
02:31And separate whatever they might think about your nephew
02:35The reception that we got was nothing, but you know, as I told my nephew just do the work you do the work
02:44Do you think it's like the sign of a comeback
02:54I'm glad that you think this is a comeback, you know
02:56Well, I will say it she's solid she's always been behind and she is she said
03:01exactly what we always say about these things were that you can't take a snapshot because
03:06If you do the thing that you people that you got famous for and you do it. Well
03:11People tend to here's you here's here's problem
03:13Problem is this that the case is not real open right that remember he served six days in jail
03:20He got a sentence and he was sentenced to six days in jail
03:23That remember he served six days in jail he got a sentence of a hundred and fifty days
03:29He was released after six days because there was an appeal which is an appropriate thing to do to release him
03:35Which they did the Illinois Supreme Court has had this case forever. I think before Clooney bought the studio City House
03:43They've had this case forever and now they're expected to rule
03:49By the end of the year, but Derek I gotta tell you it is an uphill climb for him to get this reverse
03:55It is absolutely an uphill climb and I think Vivica if Alex is look that's his aunt
03:59She obviously supports him. But until Jussie falls on the sword and puts this behind him. This will just languish
04:04I think Lee Daniels represents more how people think of Jussie Smollett
04:08It's a it's a very complicated issue and he was sort of airing that out
04:11I think until he puts it behind him by saying something affirmatively about what he did. It's gonna be a hard so many hard things
04:17Hi, I'm Dinah Jones from Chicago. Hi there. Oh, that's perfect city for this
04:22exactly
04:24With Jesse making a comeback. I'm so glad he's gonna make that comeback. Everyone deserves a second chance
04:30I think I'm gonna get it. I think he's gonna get it because I just gotta make good work. Yeah