Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 13, 2025 · Entertainment

Friendship Tested: Chosen Wilkins Regrets Filing Charges Against Empire Star Bryshere Y. Gray

Dustin 'Chosen' Wilkins (pictured in 2024), the man who accused Empire alum Bryshere Y. Gray of physically assaulting him on June 13, now regrets filing a criminal complaint against him with the magistrate's office

Dramatic Turn of Events: Empire Alum Bryshere Y. Gray's Accuser, Dustin 'Chosen' Wilkins, Regrets Filing Charges!

In a shocking twist, OnlyFans model and reality TV star Dustin "Chosen" Wilkins has done an about-face, revealing he regrets filing charges against Empire alum Bryshere Y. Gray for alleged physical assault. The scandalous saga began when Wilkins accused Gray of physically attacking him at a hotel in Chesapeake, Virginia on June 13. However, in a stunning confession to TMZ, Wilkins spilled the beans that his motives were not entirely pure.

"It wasn't about putting him in jail; it was about trying to make sure he understands the consequences for his actions," Wilkins explained. "But more so, if they're in a situation where the judge can assign him treatment instead of jail time." Wilkins, 31, claimed that Gray's lack of medication contributed to their altercation.

The 31-year-old OnlyFans model (mugshot pictured) turned himself into the Chesapeake Sheriff Office in Virginia on June 15 and was charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on the 36-year-old singer-actor

The spotlight singer, who was once executive producing and starring alongside Gray in a reality show called The Starboys, went on to reveal that he "kind of regrets" pressing charges against his former collaborator. "I didn't really want him in jail because I thought about it, and those boys are going to take advantage of him," Wilkins admitted.

Wilkins' sudden change of heart has left many wondering what triggered this dramatic turn of events. The truth is that Gray's struggles with addiction and mental health have been well-documented. In 2020, he was arrested for felony aggravated assault against an unnamed woman claiming to be his wife. Two years later, he was reportedly arrested again for violating his probation.

Gray, who boasts a whopping 8.5 million social media followers, has been open about his struggles and has even used his platform to raise awareness about mental health issues. Despite the controversy surrounding him, Gray remains active on his OnlyFans account, which is currently offering free subscriptions.

Wilkins told TMZ on Saturday (pictured): 'It was not a

The Starboys production team has since distanced themselves from Wilkins' statements, stating that it was his "independent choice" to speak with TMZ and does not reflect the views of the show. "This project is entertaining and relatable with strong topics and heated conversations at times," a spokesperson for the show said in a statement.

As Gray faces further court appearances later this month, fans are left wondering what's next for this talented but troubled star. Will he continue to prioritize his health and well-being, or will he let the drama surrounding him define his future?

In related news, Wilkins' past is shrouded in controversy. In 2020, he was arrested for felony aggravated assault against an unnamed woman claiming to be his wife. This latest development raises more questions than answers about Wilkins' true motives and whether his regret is genuine or just a publicity stunt.

The Spotlight singer added: 'It was about trying to make sure that he understands consequences for actions, but moreso if they're in a situation the judge will be able to assign him more treatment as opposed to putting him in jail'

The drama surrounding Gray is not new; in fact, his former Empire co-star Jussie Smollett's high-profile hate crime hoax in 2019 has left many wondering if there's something fishy going on. While we can't speculate about Gray's innocence or guilt, one thing is certain – this scandalous saga is far from over!

**Stay tuned for further updates on The Starboys and the drama surrounding Bryshere Y. Gray! Follow us at thescholarlynote.com for all the latest news and gossip!

Chosen said he 'kind of regrets' pressing charges on Gray, whom he said was like 'my little brother'

He continued: 'I thought about it and those boys [in prison] are going to take advantage of him...I'll say it on record, if he goes and gets evaluated and he [starts] working on himself then you know, that's it. You know then we can drop the charge, but he has to be stabilized'

Chosen - who paid Bryshere's bond despite having a 'no contact' order in place - explained: 'I'm not trying to be his dad. I'm trying to be a very good friend because, regardless if you want to be in entertainment or not, you need to be safe'

Gray - who's been dropped by his PR team - and Wilkins were executive producing and starring in a reality show called The Starboys about gay men in the industry, but Gray is no longer involved with the project

Spokesman J. Christian wrote in a statement Saturday: '@thestarboystv cast and production team did not agree to @thechosenshow speaking to @tmz_TV! It was his independent choice and does not involve the rest of the cast or production. This show will not include violence'

The Philly native was previously arrested in 2020 (mugshot pictured) for felony aggravated assault against an unnamed woman claiming to be 'his wife' and he was sentenced to 10 days in county jail and three years probation

Two years later, Bryshere was reportedly arrested for violating his probation for allegedly failing to inform his probation officer about multiple run-ins with law enforcement

Gray - who's due back in court later this month - is best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon in Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's primetime musical drama Empire, which aired for six seasons spanning 2015-2020 on Fox

His disgraced former castmate Jussie Smollett (R, pictured in 2018) swore he was attacked in 2019 by two Trump supporters, who turned out to be his former personal trainers the Osundairo Brothers, and they claimed he hired them to pour bleach on him and put a noose around his neck in order to boost his celebrity profile

The 43-year-old hate crime hoaxer only served six days of his 150-day sentence for five counts of felony disorderly conduct before the Illinois Supreme Court reversed his conviction on November 21 citing his sweetheart plea deal with Cook County State's Attorney Kim Fox (pictured in 2022)

Instead of paying the city of Chicago back its $120,106 in restitution, Jussie paid his $10K bond and completed 15 hours of community service before donating $50K to the Building Better Futures Center for the Arts and $10K to the Chicago Torture Justice Center (2019 mugshot)

Bryshere - who boasts 8.5M social media followers - is still very active on his OnlyFans account, which is currently offering free subscriptions