Jussie Smollett Denies Alleged 2019 Hate Crime Was Hoax

Again in 2019, Jussie Smollett — who you most likely know finest from his efficiency on Empire — was indicted on 16 felony counts by a Chicago grand jury for allegedly submitting a false police report relating to a hate crime that he claimed to be the sufferer of.

When submitting the report, Jussie alleged that two males shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him whereas placing a noose over his neck and pouring bleach on him. In 2021, he was discovered responsible of falsely reporting a hate crime, however in 2024 the conviction was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Courtroom.

In a brand new interview with Selection that was revealed forward of the forthcoming Netflix documentary The Fact About Jussie Smollett?, the actor maintained his innocence and claimed that he was a sufferer of the hate crime that he was ultimately charged for allegedly making a false report of.

“The villains are the 2 individuals who assaulted me, the Chicago Police Division and, if I could also be so courageous, the mayor,” he mentioned, referring to former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Jussie additionally alleged that the 2014 homicide of teenager Laquan McDonald by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke performed a job within the scrutiny surrounding him. “May it’s that that they had simply came upon in regards to the lacking minutes and the lacking tape from the homicide of Laquan McDonald?” he mentioned. “May it’s that the mayor helped cover that?”

“We’re dwelling in a world the place the higher-ups, their major mission, with a purpose to do all the underhanded issues that they’re doing, is to distract us with the shiny object,” he added.

Jussie went on to deal with the pair of brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who ultimately alleged to authorities that they’d deliberate the hate crime hoax together with the actor. “All I can say is, God bless you, and I hope it was value it,” he mentioned. “Each single different individual’s story has modified a number of instances. Mine has by no means. I’ve nothing to achieve from this.”

When requested why exonerating proof supporting Jussie’s claims hasn’t but emerged six years after the preliminary report, he replied, “To be trustworthy with you, I don’t actually know. I’m not an investigative reporter or a detective. I can’t sit and inform you precisely, beat by beat, what occurred.”

“I can solely inform you what did not occur. And what didn’t occur is the story that’s been on the market for nearly seven years, that one way or the other I’d have even a motive to do one thing as egregious as this.”