By Cassie Carpenter For Dailymail.com
Published: 23:37 GMT, 17 March 2019 | Updated: 00:16 GMT, 18 March 2019
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Taraji P. Henson donned a chic black Jenny Packham dress while promoting her new film The Best of Enemies at the Whitby Hotel in Manhattan on Sunday.
The 48-year-old Oscar nominee commented on her onscreen Empire son Jussie Smollett, who pleaded not guilty Thursday to 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a hate crime on himself January 29.
When asked directly by on Sunday about the troubled 36-year-old's scandal and his character Jamal Lyon being written off, Taraji stated: 'We're strong. I'm strong. And that's all I can say.'
Sheer button-up: Taraji P. Henson donned a chic black Jenny Packham dress while promoting her new film The Best of Enemies at the Whitby Hotel in Manhattan on Sunday
It was a much colder response than Henson gave the show on February 4 when she said of Smollett: 'Jussie is love, that's who he is. That's all he knows...I just told him to walk in his truth.'
Last Wednesday's episode of the Fox soap opera - titled 'My Fault Is Past' - only drew 4.4M total viewers, which was down 13 percent, according to TheWrap.
For Sunday's photo call, the What Men Want actress looked sophisticated in a Jenny Packham 'Myrna' SS/19 tulle collared gown with crystal embellished motifs selected by stylist Jason Bolden.
Hairstylist Tymothe Wallace gave the Washington, D.C.-born bride-to-be a sleek middle-parted bob.
Facing three years in prison: The 48-year-old Oscar nominee commented on her onscreen Empire son Jussie Smollett (M), who pleaded not guilty Thursday to 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a hate crime on himself January 29
