Every Emmy season brings with it the requisite snubs, even as yesterday’s nominations finally acknowledged Tatiana Maslany and more, though the breakout success of FOX’s Empire seems largely to have been overlooked. Series creator Lee Daniels had … what you might call an adverse reaction about it.

Covering your young ones’ ears … er, eyes? Great. “FUCK these motherfuckers,” said Daniels in an Instagram video post, joined on by series star Jussie Smollett, who himself cautioned “You have to be nice!” Were there any question of Daniels’ intent, he captioned the post “#emmyniceguyoverwith.”

Taraji P. Henson and the Empire costume designers are hopefully in better spirits, though Daniels later offered a slight clarification.

In addition to its September 23 premiere, Empire Season 2 will expand to 18 episodes, up from the first run’s 12, and structured in two halves with a major cliffhanger between. Thus far, Season 2 guest stars include Kelly Rowland, Marisa Tomei, Adam Rodriguez, Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz and Alicia Keys, while hip-hop artist Ne-Yo will join Timbaland in writing music for Season 2.

Empire has garnered plenty of recognition on its own, but is Daniels’ reaction on-point?

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