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Malik Yoba’s abrupt exit on the burgeoning Empire has led to immense speculation, including the very negative rumor that he got fired for abusing drugs on the set.

The 47-year-old industry veteran appeared on TMZ Live once again to shoot down the rumors that he was being an addicted nuisance to the rest of Empire co-stars. Yoba cited The Inquisitr for employing a rogue blogger from Thailand for being responsible for starting the rumor in the first place. Despite the speculation, he’s been getting support from his now former castmates.

“[Lee Daniels] called me on Sunday and that’s exactly what he said; ‘Everybody knows you’re not on no damn drugs. And FOX hasn’t reported it…it’s just unfortunate. I’ve spent money and a lot of time in the past three days having to refute what’s been said.”

Both Jussie Smollett (who plays Jamal) and Bryshere Y. Gray (who plays Hakeem) appeared on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show to back Yoba up in the wake of this new controversy.

“Absolutely not,” Smollet said in when asked about the validity of the reports by Smiley. “Every rumor that has been written about brother Malik is idiotic and stupid. That man is an upstanding man and we have nothing but love for him….Malik is cool, he’s good people.”

Gray agreed saying, “I look up to Malik man, he’s a phenomenal actor.” The Inquisitr has since ran a retraction on their faulty story.

Watch Yoba’s TMZ Live interview down below. Smollett and Gray’s Ricky Smiley interview can be found on the next page.

Photo: TMZ

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