A special prosecutor in Chicago has indicted actor Jussie Smollett on six new charges related to the faking of an alleged hate crime last year.
Cook County prosecutors had dropped similar charges against the actor in March of last year. The court then appointed special prosecutor Dan Webb to investigate the circumstances of the attack. Webb has charged Smollett with six felony counts of disorderly conduct related to false statements the actor gave to police.
Smollett, known for his role on the Fox drama Empire, had alleged that two men attacked him, beating him and dousing him with bleach before tying a noose around his neck. The actor also claimed that the men wore “Make America Great Again” hats, suggesting they were supporters of Donald Trump. The initial reports of the attack gained worldwide attention and an outpouring of sympathy for Smollett, and renewed criticism about hateful rhetoric in American political discourse.
That changed as inconsistencies began to arise in Smollett’s story, and after two brothers came forward with evidence that Smollett had paid them to help him fake the crime. The pair alleged that Smollett himself had masterminded the attack in order to gain public sympathy and secure a salary raise on Empire.
Related: Judge orders Google to hand over Jussie Smollett’s emails and other data
The media firestorm that followed resulted in Smollett’s firing from Empire. Cook County prosecutors initially filed similar charges against the actor, only to abruptly drop them weeks later without explanation. The decision by the prosecutors to drop the charges earned wide criticism, including remarks from Chicago mayor Rham Emanuel. At that point, the judge in the case, Michael Toomin, appointed Dan Webb to reevaluate the case, and the reasons the original charges were dropped.
Tina Glandian, Smollett’s attorney, slammed Webb and his decision to file new charges against her client. She criticized Webb’s conclusions, saying they raise “serious questions about the integrity of the investigation that led to the renewed charges.”
At present, Smollett is also pursuing civil charges against the Chicago police for malicious prosecution. He will be arraigned on the new charges February 24.
frapachino
I congratulate this moron for managing to get everyone from all sides of the political spectrum to condemn him!
Jenniferp412
He should do time for this. Such a stupid way to divide a country.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
How does this sound? Since he is clearly finished in entertainment for now and the foreseeable future along with having forfeited his bail of $10k why not make him pay one and half or twice the cost of the entire investigation? That should send a financial shock to him that just might force him to look for an eight hour job. A fall from grace is what he does deserve because he was awarded opportunities many gay men (race be damned) only dream about. Had he played his cards right his character would have been the perfect tool for a spinoff or a movie about guys on the d/l. Money, power, hip hop AND d/l? I’m surprised Lee Daniels hasn’t explored that venue considering the success of Moonlight. Jussie had no idea the position he was in or pissed away. Hey, who would have thought we’d live to see the day Rupaul would be hosting Saturday Night Live or Laverne Cox on the cover of Time magazine?
Young Timer
Sorry, but we aren’t done hearing from Jussie Smollett.
BET, BET Movies, TV One and the other black cable channels will snap him up, probably for his movies, his TV work.. they might even hire him to host a black-oriented TV show.
The perfect example is Bill Cosby… that sexual predator is languishing away in some jail someplace, thinking of whom to molest if he ever makes it out at 90 years old… meanwhile that stupid TV show of his as “America’s perfect dad” still runs on BET and TV One. Every time I see it, I cringe when I see him oiling and cuddling up to all the women.
I always wondered why Lisa Bonet left that show.
Unfortunately, Jussie Smollett and his gayness will be around for a long time.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Jussie Smollet is not Bill Cosby. He is black, gay and the stations you pointed out(BET, TVOne) are not very accepting of gays despite the suspected high number of black s/l males believed to exist in America. In the case of Cosby he can gather some form of sympathy but more as a protest in saying to whitey “You don’t tell us what to and what not to air on our cable station that YOU own”, or at least thats how I read it. Empire might do well on those stations but as far as resurrecting Smollet’s career, I seriously doubt it. Smollet always did come off to me as being into white boys but I have no proof of that, just a hunch. Some one who knows him somewhere might give him a chance in a few years but it won’t be soon.
Trekbike
What a total loser. He had it all and threw it away because he’s greedy. The last thing the gay community needs is someone lying about being attacked. Chicago is a great city, I used to live there, and they should throw the book at him. He doesn’t deserve any kind of leniency. Put him in prison and throw away the key.
Chrisk
I know. Only $65,000 per episode. It’s a wonder he could afford even food. Lol
Kieran
Just come clean Jussie and apologize for your mindless fit of Trump derangement syndrome. It was a stupid stunt and you got caught. Thankfully, no innocent people were arrested and charged because of your desire to play the victim. If a working class white guy in Chicago had pulled this and falsely claimed two black men had attacked him, he’d be in jail right now.
Cam
What a shock, the right wing account that regularly defends anti-LGBT bigots wants to cry that Trump’s the victim.
Jared MacBride
@cam – Only a paid troll/tool like you could claim the comment made Trump a “victim.” Learn to read.
Cam
@Jared MacBride
Awwww, one troll defending another. Sorry, I get that anything negative about Trump enrages you guys.
Dymension
While I certainly condemn his actions particularly in such a divisive time, time and again we have seen where the legal system gangs up on a person of color and pile up 15, 16, 20 different charges on a person. Tell me how this was a violent crime that deserves so many “trumped up” charges (no pun intended)?
It was for that reason that Kim Foxx, whether correct or incorrect, decided to drop the charges. Meanwhile, Trump is trying to get his guy Roger Stone from doing too much time. I won’t be surprised if he ultimately pardons him.
frapachino
Oh please Mary. Had it been a white guy he’d be persecuted and in jail and you know it.
toddlicious
This just proves that one stupid decision can ruin your life for a very very long time… he’ll never overcome this and he ruined a potentially great career.
Aires the Ram
As the old saying goes: “What goes around, comes around.”
Cam
Throwing a distraction for for the media to focus on so they can ignore Trump’s takeover of the Department of Justice.
frapachino
You really are bonkers?
Jared MacBride
@frapachino – yes, he is completely and utterly out of what he laughing calls his mind
Kangol2
I don’t think Cam is overreaching here. BTW, is Drumpf going to apologize for his buddy Rush’s homophobic attacks on Pete and Chasten Buttigieg? Are any GOPers or Drumpf lovers going to criticize that drug addict Rush, whose homophobia and racism is well known? Remember, Don the Con Clown Drumpf just gave him one of the US’s highest honors, on the floor of the House of Representative, essentially honoring a drug addict homophobic racist misogynist liar before the Congress and the world.
Kangol2
I think Smollett made a terrible decision, perhaps even had a psychic break, and now cannot admit to himself or the public that he did this. He has lost his reputation and his job, and is now a social and industry pariah, but this was a victimless crime that did not drag out endlessly. Far, far worse crimes occur every day in Chicago (and all over the country), and the CPD moves like molasses on them. Because he tied the fake crime to Drumpf and the MAGAs, and because the local authorities want to make an example of him, he’s being targeted with these new charges. Whatever happens, nothing will change the fact that Chicago Police Department has an atrocious record, that hate crimes do occur, and that people who disbelieve hate crimes won’t continue to do so. As for Smollett, he clearly had bad or no advice because he really should have thought about his hardened stance when there was a tiny window last year to apologize and grovel. He might have been at least to keep his job on Empire.
scotty
oh Juicy…you got some ‘splainin to do
Devildogc
Why are they spending all this money on this? There are murderers and drug gangs out there and real crimes are being committed. The hell with this, cut your losses and go solve other cases.