- Jussie Mollett, an actor, claimed that two men attacked him in 2019 shouting homophobic and racist slurs.
- Soon after, he was accused by police of staging an attack to further his career. This he denied.
- After several delays in the handling of the case, and due to the pandemic that erupted, his criminal trial will begin Monday.
After many years of delays, Jussie, an actor, will begin his criminal trial for hate crimes against himself Monday.
Smollett reported to Chicago police in January 2019 that two men in ski masks attacked him as he walked home from Subway sandwich shop at 2 AM. They claimed they shouted homophobic and racist slurs, and referenced the slogan of former President Donald Trump. “Make America Great Again.”He said that the men had placed a noose around him.
Smollett, a Black man who was openly gay at the time, was the star of the TV show. “Empire,”Which was filmed in Chicago.
The attack was initially investigated as a hate-crime. Police and prosecutors stated that they believed Smollett orchestrated it. He was charged with felony disturbance of conduct after he made a false police report.
Smollett denies the accusations.
Eddie Johnson, the then-CPD superintendent, said that Smollett had written a racist and homophobic note and set up the attack after it failed to attract attention. He claimed that two brothers, Olabinjo Osundairo Osundairo (Abimbola) told police Smollett paid him $3,500 to stage the attack. This was because he wasn’t satisfied with his salary. “Empire.”
Johnson, who is also Black stated that Smollett exploited “the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.”
“Why would anyone — especially an African-American man — use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations?”Johnson stated. “How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?”
Smollett maintained his account of what happened.
In 2019, his lawyer said that he was a StatementSmollett paid the Osundairo brothers money for personal training.
The Osundairo brothers will be key witnesses in the prosecution’s case. Chicago Tribune reported. Smollett’s lawyers expect to claim that the brothers framed them.
Due to the dismissal of charges and re-filing, the trial was delayed. investigationThe Wall Street Journal published details about the case and the pandemic.