In a recent interview, actress Jurnee Smollett, sister of actor Jussie Smollett, has lashed out at allegations that her brother faked a hate crime.
Jussie Smollett landed in the headlines in early 2019 when he reported being the victim of a hate crime. According to Smollett, a group of men beat him, tied a noose around his neck and doused him with bleach while yelling racial and homophobic slurs. Police later arrested brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, but declined to charge them with the crime. Instead, law enforcement claimed to have uncovered evidence that Smollett paid the brothers to stage the attack in hopes of getting a salary boost on the television series Empire. Smollett was fired from the show and indicted for making false reports to police, though those charges were later dropped. Subsequently, a special prosecutor charged Smollett with six accounts of disorderly conduct. Smollett pled innocent to the charges, and has maintained his innocence throughout.
Now Jurnee Smollett has opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about how the ordeal has affected her family, and where they stand on Jussie’s innocence.
Related: More bad news for Jussie Smollett
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“It’s been f*cking painful,” Smollett says, “one of the most painful things my family’s ever experienced — to love someone as much as we love my brother, and to watch someone who you love that much go through something like this, that is so public, has been devastating. I was already in a very dark space for a number of reasons, and I’ve tried to not let it make me pessimistic. But everyone who knows me knows that I love my brother and I believe my brother.”
“We are blessed to have a community of people who know him,” she adds, “and know that he wouldn’t do this.”
Jurnee also offered a brief glimpse into Jussie Smollett’s life following his status as a Hollywood pariah. Though she didn’t go into much detail, she claims Jussie is doing well despite the drama.
“I mean, f*ck, man, I look at him sometimes and I’m like, ‘He’s so strong,'” she says. “He’s staying creative, as creatives do,” she says, “singing, writing, working on music.”
Jussie Smollett’s case regarding charges of disorderly conduct remains ongoing.
Jim
So she’s a media whore like her brother. Is this surprising?
Heywood Jablowme
Jussie is “creative,” all right!
Vince
Apparently he doesn’t love you that much since he can’t suck his inflated ego up and just be honest with you.
The problem is that Jussie has been coddled by them. Instead of asking him to take some responsibility they’ve stuck their heads down in the ground. It’s not really going to help him though.
JW
And…I believe him too…its really something that many of you can ridicule and subject him for something that has yet to be proven guilty and if so…he has not done nothing as severe as what your leaders of the USA are doing right now and continuously do so on a daily basis and they are running our country and lying so much severe in regards to our livelihood as opposed to something so mundane as this which by the way is something that many of you nay sayers have done in your lifetime and probably worse than what he is being accused of…Its really horrible that his career is being destroyed like this and many others within the entertainment industry have done and said far worse and they have been able to move forward in their careers and done far better than before their mishaps and yet..you want to nail this guy to the cross…you all ought to be ashamed of yourselves and then on top of that…ridiculing Journee for standing up for her brother..are you serious!!!!!!????
Chrisk
Can’t say as I’ve ever committed a crime to get a better rate of pay while blaming white people so I guess i’m ignorant to what that’s like. I’ve never even heard of anyone doing that except Jussie so this everyone does it is fantasy at best.
I’d say he’s already nailed himself to the cross. If I was his sister I would’ve made him tell me the truth. That’s what people do when they love each other. Looking at the family you can see why he turned out the way he did though.
Fname Optional Lname
He literally wrote them out a check for their services!
Onecaddy13
@JW you need breathe. Also, please rant with proper punctuations, etc.
Gay Thomas
Honey, even us gays don’t believe him…
JB
Is this still even a thing?
ThinkPIease
The only way white people can make things right for us blacks is to have your DNA checked. If you are the descendant of a slave owner, you must be imprisoned for ten years for what your ancestors did. If you do not agree with this, you are a RACIST! Black Lives Matter.
Fname Optional Lname
This case has nothing to do with BLM, Jussie was attacked by two black men.
richard2179
this posting is fake (by a hacker trying too hard to provoke drama). Busted!
frapachino
Shut up racist!
Cam
Sweetie, it’s cute that you think we’ve forgotten this is a right wing troll account.
Please tell Putin to spend money for some smarter trolls.
Cam
@frapachino
Interesting, you have one of your screenames make a ridiculous post pretending to be a black account, then you bring in another of your screenames to call them a racist.
So, was this in the first day troll pamphlet at your troll farm and you thought it was a good idea to try it here? LOL!!!!
ThinkPIease
Cam (Karen) we all know you are a RACIST!
Cam
@ThinkPIease
LOL! You responded to me from the wrong screename! LOL!!!!! OMG, you are the worse troll imaginable.
Toofie
Lol, Cam, that guy can’t keep all his troll names straight.
JPDonahue
It took her HOW LONG to finally say something?
nitejonboy
She needs to keep her mouth shut about it if she wants people to watch that show she’s hawking on HBO right now…that kind of publicity would not be good for it or her. Stay out of it sister, it is not your fight!!
Cam
Look, I get it, she’s his sister so I’m not surprised she is backing him up, and I can’t fault her for believing her brother.
But it really seems like his story completely fell apart and if I was her I would try to not mention it during interviews.
justgeo
If you think he is true—try a Clorox douche! Soon then let’s talk!
Chris
“…he has not done nothing….”. Come on, people. Let’s get our use of English up an educated level. If you’re going to go on a tirade let’s do it with proper English and not embarrass ourselves.
Chris
@thinkplease, go f#ck yourself. I haven’t done anything wrong and never owned slaves. Let’s check YOUR DNA and if you’re related to any criminals YOU have to pay. Idiot.
Onecaddy13
JS sister should be embarrassed. Does any family member read? watch television? Or are their heads still buried in the sand. Surely they were read the indictments from his attorney yet she still defending him. Like The old saying, blood is thicker than water, but come on sis, HE’S GUILTY!!!!