Lucious Lyon’s Childhood: The True Story That Could Have Inspired Empire (His Mother and Family History)
Lucious Lyon’s childhood character on Fox’s hit TV series Empire could be based on the true story of child killer Kevin Hughes out of Philadelphia. I saw the story in my mind while reviewing the Rochelle Graham case. A reenactment of the true-crime series Killer Kids sparked my memory. I went back to review the earlier episodes of Empire, and well, I still believe it’s inspired by Hughes’ childhood story.
Credit: Fox, Police File Photo
Now, just to give you the gist: Kevin Hughes made the news in 1979 for the murder of Rochelle Graham, a nine-year-old girl. He was convicted of murder and originally sentenced to die, but that sentence was overturned. He’s still in prison today, serving life.
By the way, I’m only examining the true story that inspired Lucious
Lyon’s childhood—not the adult Lucious.
Lee Daniels, the creator of Empire, has openly said he pulls from real-life situations, his experiences, and true stories when he builds his characters.
To name a few similarities, they both grew up in Philadelphia. They both grew up in abject poverty. Lucious Lyon and Kevin Hughes both had mothers who suffered from mental illness and who mistreated them severely. But there’s more.
Kevin’s mother used to laugh at him. I thought I remembered a scene like that in Empire’s TV series–during one of Lucious’ flashbacks, but I can’t be sure. In any event, both of their mothers abandoned them and left them as homeless orphans, looking for food on the seedy streets of Philly.
Most people probably have never heard of the Kevin Hughes—Rochelle Graham case. It was one of those local true crime stories you really have never heard about, unless you were from there.
People have always speculated: Sean “Puffy” Combs, P. Diddy… Puff Daddy may be the inspiration for Lucious Lyon, the man. Some even believe his character is inspired in part by Jay-Z.
But I don’t think anyone has discussed his childhood. And also, let me clarify,
I’m not saying Lucious Lyon’s childhood backstory is 100% based on Kevin Hughes, but a lot of it—a big part of it—I do believe is inspired by that story.
And that’s the part I want to break down for you…
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Tracy Curry Reyes. I’m a writer, and I’ve been examining movies based on true stories and true crimes for over 20 years.
Even now, I still like to dive into films and shows to see if I can find the true story behind the fictional story.
I’m going to give you a few nuggets and pebbles that lead you back to the real case.
So at the beginning of Empire, we meet Lucious Lyon. At first, we don’t know much about him. We only get bits and pieces. But going into Season 2, we start to see more of his backstory—the parts he chooses to reveal. And of course, he isn’t entirely truthful, is he? Lucious Lyon lets us in on pieces of his former life, but he holds a lot back.
What we learn is that Lucious Lyon grew up in Philadelphia as Dwight. His mother, Leah, was removed from his life when he was just a little boy. Now, the supposed story in Empire is that his mother, Leah, had died. But we later uncover the “Big Lie”...she isn’t dead. She’s very much alive, but she’s been in a secret place that Lucious has been paying for.
(credit-Traciy Curry-Reyes)
We later learn that the secret place is a mental facility. Leah is mentally unstable, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with violent tendencies that make her dangerous.
In the TV show Empire, mental health is a central theme. Lucious Lyon has a mentally ill son named Andre, who inherited bipolar disorder from his grandmother, Leah. Again, Leah is Lucious’ mother.
Somehow it skipped Lucious, or it wasn't as pronounced. At times, Lucious Lyon is driven to murder, and he knows that he is damaged. But for the most part, viewers see a controlled Lyon who knows how to take that rage and pour it into his business in later years.
In the real case, Kevin Hughes’ mother, Rebecca, had schizophrenia, and Hughes went on to develop mental disorders as well.
As a kid, Lucious witnesses his mother’s erratic behavior. He experiences her chaos firsthand. There’s instability, financially and emotionally. She spends money on clothes and other things, but they don’t have food. There’s a scene where young Lucious says, “Mom, we need food. We need to take these things back.” And she’s completely out of it; she doesn’t understand.
They are both violent, too. Lucious' mother, Leah, holds a gun up to her head and threatens to kill herself. He remembers the sound: Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom…Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang… ringing in his head.
In Kevin Hughes' story, his mother, Rebecca, did the same thing. She tried to commit suicide in front of Kevin. I’m not sure if a gun was ever involved—pills were the only thing I had seen mentioned in court records. To keep them safe, both boys were removed from their mother’s home.
Lee Daniels, the creator of Empire, has openly said he pulls from real-life situations, his experiences, and true stories when he builds his characters.
To name a few similarities, they both grew up in Philadelphia. They both grew up in abject poverty. Lucious Lyon and Kevin Hughes both had mothers who suffered from mental illness and who mistreated them severely. But there’s more.
Kevin’s mother used to laugh at him. I thought I remembered a scene like that in Empire’s TV series–during one of Lucious’ flashbacks, but I can’t be sure. In any event, both of their mothers abandoned them and left them as homeless orphans, looking for food on the seedy streets of Philly.
Most people probably have never heard of the Kevin Hughes—Rochelle Graham case. It was one of those local true crime stories you really have never heard about, unless you were from there.
People have always speculated: Sean “Puffy” Combs, P. Diddy… Puff Daddy may be the inspiration for Lucious Lyon, the man. Some even believe his character is inspired in part by Jay-Z.
But I don’t think anyone has discussed his childhood. And also, let me clarify,
I’m not saying Lucious Lyon’s childhood backstory is 100% based on Kevin Hughes, but a lot of it—a big part of it—I do believe is inspired by that story.
And that’s the part I want to break down for you…
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Tracy Curry Reyes. I’m a writer, and I’ve been examining movies based on true stories and true crimes for over 20 years.
Even now, I still like to dive into films and shows to see if I can find the true story behind the fictional story.
I’m going to give you a few nuggets and pebbles that lead you back to the real case.
So at the beginning of Empire, we meet Lucious Lyon. At first, we don’t know much about him. We only get bits and pieces. But going into Season 2, we start to see more of his backstory—the parts he chooses to reveal. And of course, he isn’t entirely truthful, is he? Lucious Lyon lets us in on pieces of his former life, but he holds a lot back.
What we learn is that Lucious Lyon grew up in Philadelphia as Dwight. His mother, Leah, was removed from his life when he was just a little boy. Now, the supposed story in Empire is that his mother, Leah, had died. But we later uncover the “Big Lie”...she isn’t dead. She’s very much alive, but she’s been in a secret place that Lucious has been paying for.
(credit-Traciy Curry-Reyes)
Generational Mental Health Component: Lucious Lyon’s Family History
We later learn that the secret place is a mental facility. Leah is mentally unstable, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with violent tendencies that make her dangerous.
In the TV show Empire, mental health is a central theme. Lucious Lyon has a mentally ill son named Andre, who inherited bipolar disorder from his grandmother, Leah. Again, Leah is Lucious’ mother.
Somehow it skipped Lucious, or it wasn't as pronounced. At times, Lucious Lyon is driven to murder, and he knows that he is damaged. But for the most part, viewers see a controlled Lyon who knows how to take that rage and pour it into his business in later years.
In the real case, Kevin Hughes’ mother, Rebecca, had schizophrenia, and Hughes went on to develop mental disorders as well.
As a kid, Lucious witnesses his mother’s erratic behavior. He experiences her chaos firsthand. There’s instability, financially and emotionally. She spends money on clothes and other things, but they don’t have food. There’s a scene where young Lucious says, “Mom, we need food. We need to take these things back.” And she’s completely out of it; she doesn’t understand.
They are both violent, too. Lucious' mother, Leah, holds a gun up to her head and threatens to kill herself. He remembers the sound: Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom…Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang… ringing in his head.
In Kevin Hughes' story, his mother, Rebecca, did the same thing. She tried to commit suicide in front of Kevin. I’m not sure if a gun was ever involved—pills were the only thing I had seen mentioned in court records. To keep them safe, both boys were removed from their mother’s home.
For Lucious Lyon, it happened after his father was arrested. For Kevin Hughes, it happened after he attempted to kill himself between the ages of 9 and 11.
But trouble didn’t end there. Both Lucious and Kevin ended up as homeless orphans.
Lucious ran away from a neighbor’s home before social services could arrive to avoid foster care.
Kevin Hughes was finally ripped from his mother’s home in California and sent to live with his grandmother in Philadelphia after the suicide attempt. His grandmother’s name was Mary.
I’m not sure, but I think Kevin’s hunger episodes took place in California.
Ok. Let’s catch up.
Lucious Lyon at his mother Leah's grave in Philly. (Credit: Fox)
Both Mothers Attempt Suicide In Front of Their Sons—And the significance of Age 9 and the Year 1979
We've already discussed that Kevin Hughes’ mother tried to commit suicide in front of him several times, but let's talk about their ages. He experienced this triggering event when he was around 9 years old and younger. That was one of the things that had a great impact on his mental health. She literally frightened him out of his mind, most likely.
That was significant in Empire’s story, too. Lucious Lyon was also around 9 years old when his mother, Leah, tried to kill herself in front of him.
“She did this right in front of you?” Cookie asks Lucious, looking scared and puzzled.
In one scene, Lucious takes his son to visit his grandmother’s grave. Her birth month is in March. Her death year is marked 1979. The Kevin Hughes–Rochelle Graham case made headlines in March of 1979. Rochelle Graham was 9 years old.
Equally interesting is the significance of the abandoned buildings.
On an episode of Empire, in an intimate conversation with Cookie, Lucious tells her he had to eat out of garbage cans.
In real life, Kevin Hughes roamed the streets looking for food, too. That was one of the reasons he wanted a job as soon as he was old enough to legally work—so he wouldn’t ever be hungry again.
Abandoned buildings were a central theme in both of their lives. While on the streets of Philly, Lucious Lyon lived in abandoned buildings he called “abando-miniums.” That was his way of transmuting his experience. He had a strong desire to overcome his circumstances. He wanted to live a wealthy life, not just survive.
Kevin Hughes didn’t have the same mindset. Something else I believe stopped him from being able to overcome his circumstances.
As for Kevin, his mom abused him a lot more than Leah abused Dwight. Empire doesn't touch that part of the story.
Now, we’re still talking about abandoned buildings….so, we said, Lucious Lyon lived in abandoned buildings. Kevin Hughes snatched innocent people off the streets of Philadelphia and dragged them into abandoned buildings and houses, where he terrified them and took advantage of them. Rochelle Graham was murdered in an abandoned house.
Drugs and the Significance of the Number 16
The number 16 is important in both stories. While on the streets, Lucious met a 16-year-old dealer who taught him how to hustle, how to get money by selling bags of weed (marijuana). In the real story, Kevin Hughes’s mother was addicted to drugs, and at age 16, he delivered bags of groceries.
So, they were both hustlers, both delivered bags, and they were both obsessed with having a stash… of cash. Because of what they experienced, they never wanted to be hungry again.
Most of all, they never wanted to be caught without money.
Symbolism (He Becomes the Lion/Lyon)
One night, he finds himself in front of a building with a lion statue. He looks at it, and that’s where he gains strength. That’s when he decides to embody the essence of a lion. He even changes his name—there’s no power in Dwight, as far as he’s concerned. Instead of Dwight…It’s Lucious. Right there, he not only embodies the essence of the lion. He becomes the lion, or at least in his own mind.
Now, let’s circle back to Kevin Hughes.
So, everything we know about Kevin Hughes is found in the public record. The public record consists of court documents and snippets of affidavits provided by his family members regarding his circumstances, the events of his life, and his experiences with his mother.
Symbolism (Leah and Rebecca)
Lucious Lyon is raised by his mom, Leah. In the real-life true crime story, Kevin Hughes lived with his mom, Rebecca.
Now, for starters, I thought that was interesting. When I went back and realized Dwight’s (Lucious’) mother was named Leah, and compared it to Kevin Hughes’ mother, Rebecca, I thought of Leah and Rebecca in the Bible.
Over the years, I have followed Lee Daniels’ work, and I’ve seen biblical symbolism in some of his stories. I don’t think there was any symbolism used here, but I know writers sometimes flip the names. For example, Rebekah (Rebecca) in the Bible could “become” Leah in Daniels’ Empire story.
Or…none of that has to be true. Still, the analysis is intriguing.
Music Component
Lucious Lyon is a music mogul and a singer. That was always his desire…to be in music…Interesting…too. Kevin Hughes was a singer. He could sing naturally, according to his uncle. Though I don’t think he had any real way of developing it. And I’m not sure he even wanted to.
Kevin, it seems, had murder on his mind.
Not music.
Both Kevin Hughes and Lucious Lyon were dangerous, and they both embarked upon a life of crime.
Now, from there, they took different paths. Lucious Lyon became a music mogul and lived a plush life—still very dangerous…but a plush, dangerous life, if you will.
Kevin Hughes was a danger to society. He preyed upon innocent people, and his life continued to spiral downward until he was finally arrested for murder.
One last similarity: both of their stories made headlines. Kevin Hughes’ story made headlines when he killed Rochelle Graham. Lyon’s story makes headlines when his wife, Cookie, encourages him to tell the story of how a homeless orphan named Dwight became Lucious Lyon.
Watch The Rochelle Graham Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mf5zNUp9G0
Read the Article
The Rochelle Graham Story: The Case of Kevin Peanut Hughes
Cited Sources
The Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Eonline
Music Component
Lucious Lyon is a music mogul and a singer. That was always his desire…to be in music…Interesting…too. Kevin Hughes was a singer. He could sing naturally, according to his uncle. Though I don’t think he had any real way of developing it. And I’m not sure he even wanted to.
Kevin, it seems, had murder on his mind.
Not music.
Both Kevin Hughes and Lucious Lyon were dangerous, and they both embarked upon a life of crime.
Now, from there, they took different paths. Lucious Lyon became a music mogul and lived a plush life—still very dangerous…but a plush, dangerous life, if you will.
Kevin Hughes was a danger to society. He preyed upon innocent people, and his life continued to spiral downward until he was finally arrested for murder.
One last similarity: both of their stories made headlines. Kevin Hughes’ story made headlines when he killed Rochelle Graham. Lyon’s story makes headlines when his wife, Cookie, encourages him to tell the story of how a homeless orphan named Dwight became Lucious Lyon.
Watch The Rochelle Graham Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mf5zNUp9G0
Read the Article
The Rochelle Graham Story: The Case of Kevin Peanut Hughes
Cited Sources
The Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Eonline
Court Records