Last season’s final episode saw Rhonda fighting with Anika (Grace Gealey) on top of a roof when Andre (Trai Byers) walked out onto the scene to see someone fall off the balcony — but he didn’t see who.
Moments after Season 3 kicked off Wednesday night, Rhonda and Anika scuffled on a balcony, which resulted in Rhonda falling from the sky plummeting onto a car many floors below. There’s no doubt about it Rhonda’s dead.
However, Rhonda came back in the episode by way of Andre’s hallucinations, setting up a storyline for the eldest Lyon brother — who’s dealt with mental illness over the past two seasons — to deal with new demons in the upcoming episodes.
This development shocked many fans as they took to Twitter Mourns Via Memes
So we're not having a funeral for Rhonda? They had a funeral for Hakeem's mistress woman. #Empirepic.twitter.com/TrKfjgVhmc— C.B. Fletcher (@CNegarita) 22 September 2016
They just moving on with this show and I'm still shook about Rhonda like .... #Empirepic.twitter.com/hkFccf7cXc— Lawrence MP. Edwards (@MisterPrinceLE) 22 September 2016
When you hype to see #Empire back on and then Rhonda dies in the first two minutes .. pic.twitter.com/3ShLNpjrqN— Newby II (@DiddyTheBoy) 22 September 2016
When I found out Rhonda fell and not Anika #Empirepic.twitter.com/SAyb7iTxrI— Michael J. Woodard (@MichaelJWoodard) 22 September 2016
When Rhonda hit that car my heart almost stopped #Empirepic.twitter.com/BmXUdIpGxr— D'Erica (@ShesSoAmiable) 22 September 2016