Wendy Williams says 'Empire' could do without Terrence Howard
"Terrence Howard, your personal life has taken over to where if by chance they took you off the show, I would be happier than mad," Williams said.
She then went on to point out several things the actor has said and done over the years and recently that she believes has overshadowed the Fox series: his alleged abuse of women, a "nutty" interview with Rolling Stone, his tenuous grasp on the laws of math ("This is the last century that our children will ever have been taught that one times one is one.")
"It has usurped his entire situation at 'Empire,'" the host said. "And the show could do without Terrence Howard. I'm sorry. It's the way I feel."
Williams comments arrived as "Empire" experienced its first ratings fall since it debuted last year. "Empire" earned 16 million viewers during its premiere last week. But the ratings dipped on Wednesday night to 13.7 million viewers.
Howard's record of alleged abuse came up ahead of "Empire's" first season during the Television Critics Association Press Tour.
The actor insisted that he has changed. "I've grown so much from anything that's happened in the past," he said in his own defense at the time.
Watch Williams discuss Howard below: