Jussie Smollett Returns to Network TV with 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' Season 4

Jussie Smollett, the openly gay actor and singer best known for his role on "Empire," is set to return to the national spotlight as a contestant in the fourth season of Fox’s reality competition series, "Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test." The network announced that Smollett will be one of 18 celebrity recruits featured in the new season, with the show scheduled to premiere on September 25 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox .

Smollett’s participation in the series marks his highest-profile project since his widely publicized legal proceedings stemming from a 2019 incident involving a reported hate crime attack, which later led to charges of filing a false police report. The legal process and its aftermath significantly impacted Smollett’s acting career and public image, with the actor maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings. His return to network television is likely to draw attention from fans, critics, and LGBTQ+ communities, many of whom have closely followed the developments surrounding his case .

"Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test" brings together a diverse cast of celebrities who must endure physically and mentally demanding tasks modeled after real-life special forces training. The fourth season, filmed on location in Morocco, will feature extreme urban warfare challenges, including navigating desert terrain, supply searches in abandoned villages, underwater escape drills, and high-altitude urban crossings. Unlike typical reality competition formats, the series has no eliminations or voting; instead, participants must rely on their determination and resilience to survive the experience .

New elements in the upcoming season include the introduction of pairs, with some recruits arriving as spouses or family members. However, all challenges are undertaken individually. According to Fox’s official show description, the aim is to push celebrities out of their comfort zones, requiring them to "learn the art of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable" .

As the premiere date approaches, reactions from both LGBTQ+ advocates and mainstream audiences remain mixed but engaged. While some viewers express optimism about Smollett’s opportunity for personal growth and public rehabilitation, others continue to scrutinize his past actions and their implications for community trust and accountability .

Fox has not released any official statements regarding the selection of Smollett for the cast beyond standard promotional materials, and Smollett himself has yet to make a public comment about his participation in the series as of this report .

"Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test" Season 4 premieres September 25 on Fox, with Smollett joining an eclectic group of celebrity participants in what is expected to be one of the network’s most closely watched reality series of the year .