Jussie Smollett Convicted Of Staging Homophobic And Racial Hate Crime

Ex “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty of five charges associated with a false police report he filed claiming that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime.

Smollett, who starred for five seasons on Fox’s “Empire,” was found guilty on five charges of disorderly conduct, and faces up to two-and-a-half years in prison. However, since he is a first-time offender, he will likely be sentenced to probation or community service.

Verdict in Jussie Smollett trial:

Count 1 – Guilty
Count 2 – Guilty
Count 3 – Guilty
Count 4 – Guilty
Count 5 – Guilty
Count 6 – Not guilty

He faced six disorderly conduct charges for making false reports to police.

— tsar becket adams (@BecketAdams) December 9, 2021

Smollett claimed that while he was out getting something to eat at around 2 a.m. in Chicago in 2019, two men shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him, before punching him, pouring bleach on him, and hanging a noose around his neck. The reported assault was met with widespread condemnation, with media figures and politicians declaring that Smottet was the victim of a “modern-day lynching.” Smollett later said that he had been assaulted due to his criticisms of then-President Donald Trump.

Investigators later determined that Smollett along with two staffers on “Empire” staged the attack. One of the staffers, Olabinjo Osundairo, testified that Smollett coordinated the hoax to garner positive media attention. Another staffer, Abimbola Osundairo, testified that Smollett asked him to “pull the punch so I don’t hurt him.”

Smollett testified that he and Abimbola Osundairo had a sexual relationship and used drugs together. He also testified that the $3,500 that he paid to the Osundairo brothers was for a meal plan and personal training, however, the brothers testified that the payment was to stage the assault.

Smollett was initially charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct but the state attorney’s office dropped the charges, a move some say was politically-motivated. A special prosecutor was later appointed by a Cook County judge to oversee the case.