Empire co-creator Lee Daniels appears to think it’s time for people to start taking Donald Trump seriously.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” Daniels said. “I’ve dodged bullets — real bullets before — but now I’m afraid because these motherf—ers are coming for us, y’all.”
Speaking at the Human Rights Campaign Gala in L.A. on Saturday night, Daniels pressed the audience “to do the right thing” and vote for Hillary Clinton. While he never mentioned Trump by name, he said during his remarks: “He’s taking over — he’s coming in to take us down, y’all, and this is serious business. Let’s do the right thing and make sure Clinton is in that f—ing office and taking care of us.”
“I don’t think you realize how much they’re coming for us,” Daniels added. “And this is not a joke. I’ve watched everyone make light of what is going on. They are coming for every one of you. White people are not excluded — they’re coming for us.”
Empire was being honored by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT civil rights advocacy group, and Daniels was on hand along with Empire showrunner Ilene Chaiken and castmembers Jussie Smollett, Gabourey Sidibe, Serayah, Kaitlin Doubleday and Ta’Rhonda Jones. The outspoken co-creator of the Fox show has been known not to hold back in discussing HIV/AIDS and homophobia as well as race in Hollywood.
“It’s time for us to do the right thing. I’m not laughing; this ain’t funny,” Daniels said.
