Jussie Smollett tries to reshape his reputation from being a 'Notorious Fraudster of America' through his TV comeback, claims an expert.
Jussie Smollett is making a notable return to the small screen in 2025, starring in the fourth season of Fox's reality show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. This marks his most high-profile TV appearance since the 2019 race hoax scandal and related legal issues.
The Illinois Supreme Court overturned Smollett's hate crime hoax conviction in November 2023, a ruling that was seen as restoring order to Illinois' criminal law jurisprudence. However, the actor's career comeback is not without its challenges.
Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct and filing a false police report in February 2019, after he was accused of orchestrating a fake hate crime against himself. He was sentenced to 30 months of felony probation and ordered to pay restitution to the City of Chicago and a fine of $25,000 in 2022.
Despite the past conviction, experts believe that Smollett's new reality show appearance is a strategic move towards reclaiming his career and changing public perception. Eric Schiffer, a brand expert, stated that the proceeding had no place in the criminal justice system, and he believes that Smollett's new reality show appearance is a step towards reclaiming his career.
"Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" is a show where celebrities undergo grueling challenges based on the actual Special Forces selection process in Morocco. Smollett will compete alongside celebrities such as Kody Brown from "Sister Wives", Brittany Cartwright from "Vanderpump Rules", Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East, Teresa Giudice and her daughter Gia Giudice from "Real Housewives of New Jersey", and former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Smollett's participation in the show is viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate his resilience and challenge his negative public image. Mark Geragos, Smollett's lawyer, stated that the ruling resolved a question about the state's responsibility to honor agreements it makes with defendants.
Schiffer also believes that Smollett's new reality show appearance will provide an opportunity to show his humanity to new viewers. He suggests that Smollett may acknowledge his mistakes and the pain he has gone through in a revealing way on the show, which might help him win back some fans and build new ones.
The comeback is complicated, given the widespread media backlash, but these projects represent key steps in Smollett's efforts to reestablish himself in the entertainment industry. In addition to the reality show, a new Netflix documentary titled The Truth About Jussie Smollett premiered in August 2025, presenting Smollett’s version of events and featuring interviews and new evidence related to the 2019 incident.
As Smollett prepares for the premiere of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test on September 25, 2025, it remains to be seen how the public will respond to his comeback. However, one thing is certain: Smollett is determined to change his narrative and prove his resilience in the face of adversity.
In the wake of Jussie Smollett's legal issues and public scandal in 2019, he is embarking on a new journey in the entertainment industry, competing on the fourth season of Fox's reality show, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, which commences on September 25, 2025. This television appearance represents a strategic move towards reclaiming his career and altering public perception.
