Chicago's Jussie Smollett labels city police and former mayor Rahm Emanuel as 'villains' amidst denial of hate crime hoax allegations
In the world of entertainment, few cases have garnered as much attention as that of Jussie Smollett. The actor, best known for his role in the popular TV show "Empire," found himself at the centre of a storm in January 2019.
Smollett claimed he was a victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two men in Chicago. Initially treated as a hate crime, the Chicago police later alleged that Smollett had staged the attack himself, hiring two Nigerian brothers to assault him, including actions like pouring bleach and placing a noose around his neck.
Smollett was indicted multiple times for filing false police reports and disorderly conduct related to the alleged hoax. After a first set of charges was dropped following community service and bond forfeiture, he was indicted again in 2020. In 2021, he was convicted on five felony counts and sentenced to 150 days in jail, plus fines and restitution to the city of Chicago.
However, this conviction was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court on November 21, 2024. The Court ruled on due-process grounds connected to an earlier 2019 agreement Smollett had with prosecutors, not on his factual innocence. This effectively vacated his conviction, but it did not affirm that the alleged attack was genuine.
Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout, denying that he orchestrated the attack with the two brothers. He has also offered fresh criticism of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, questioning why "exculpatory evidence" of his innocence didn't emerge sooner.
The case has remained highly controversial, receiving significant media, political, and public attention. In August 2025, a Netflix documentary titled "The Truth About Jussie Smollett?" was released, revisiting the whole incident, investigation, and legal battles with interviews from involved parties.
In a recent development, Smollett reached a settlement with the City of Chicago, agreeing to donate $50,000 to charity as part of the agreement to have a lawsuit against him dismissed. The Chicago Police Department and former Mayor Rahm Emanuel did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Osundairo brothers, who helped Smollett fake the 2019 hoax, have apologized to the country. They have not commented on the overturned conviction or Smollett's continued claims of innocence.
The controversy continues to resonate, with Smollett's case serving as a reminder of the complexities surrounding allegations of hate crimes and the importance of due process in the legal system.
[1] Chicago Tribune, "Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 felony counts in 'Empire' actor's alleged hoax attack," February 20, 2019. [2] Associated Press, "Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for staging hate crime," March 10, 2021. [3] Chicago Sun-Times, "Jussie Smollett case: What we know," January 29, 2019. [4] Netflix, "The Truth About Jussie Smollett?" August 30, 2025.
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