"Empire" actor Jussie Smollett has pleaded not guilty to the charges accusing him of lying to police about being attacked in downtown Chicago a few weeks ago.

A grand jury's 16-count indictment announced Friday against Jussie Smollett might be the result of prosecutors looking to charge the "Empire" actor for individual lies they contend he told about the night he says he was attacked by two masked men.

TV show “Empire” producers say Jussie Smollett’s character will be removed

Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett "took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career."

The whispers about “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett started with reports that he had not fully cooperated with police after telling authorities he was attacked in Chicago by two men who hurled racist, anti-gay slurs and looped a rope around his neck.

Chicago police investigated but dismissed a tip that on the night “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett reported being attacked by two masked men he was in an elevator of his apartment building with two brothers later arrested and released from custody in the probe, a department spokesman said Tuesday.

Chicago police and representatives for Jussie Smollett aren't speaking publicly about the investigation into a reported attack on the "Empire" actor.

Chicago police say "the trajectory of the investigation" into the reported attack on Jussie Smollett has shifted and they want to conduct another interview with the "Empire" actor.