Former Empire star Jussie Smollett will go on trial for allegedly filing a false police report after a request for dismissal in his case was denied on Oct.15. The trial will be in Chicago and begin in November.
Smollett stands accused of lying to the police about being the victim of a hate crime back in 2019. The actor and musician, who is gay and Black, claimed to have been beaten by two men while they called him homophobic and racial slurs in Chicago. He also alleged that the men put a noose around his neck.
Police later alleged that Smollett paid two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, to beat him up to garner publicity for contract negotiations on Empire. The brothers told the police that they were paid $3500 to jump Smollett. The actor was arrested the following month for felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.
A Grand Jury indicted the actor in March. However, the charges were dropped, angering those who thought the actor wasted the city’s valuable resources. A special prosecutor was later assigned to the case, and the charges were reinstated in 2020. Smollett has always maintained his innocence and is looking forward to his day in court and clearing his name.
Smollett told Marc Lamont Hill that he was being made an example of the singer said that he has wanted to speak out publicly for a long time but was advised by his lawyers to remain mum.
“It’s been beyond frustrating because to be somebody that’s so outspoken… it’s been difficult to be so quiet. To not be able to say all of the things that you want to say, to not be able to yell from the rooftop,” he said.
“Because, I don’t think people realize that I’ve just been wrapped up in some form of a case for the last, approaching, in just a couple of months approaching two years. It’s been beyond frustrating. I’m certainly not going rogue. I’m still taking the advice of my attorneys and everything like that. But I just don’t see honestly what staying quiet has really done. Where it has gotten me.”
“They won’t let this go. It doesn’t matter. There is an example being made. And the sad thing is that there’s an example being made of someone that did not do what they’re being accused of,” he concluded.
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The 39-year-old has been busy despite his legal troubles. He recently directed a film called B-Boy Blues and posted about the accomplishment on Instagram. The film is based on the book by James Earl Hardy, who is a producer on the movie along with Smollett.
Jussie Smollett’s trial is set to begin in November in Chicago.
