If you haven’t heard of Jussie Smollett you are not missing out on much.
Smollett had told the police, when they responded to his 911 call, that on the morning of January 29, 2019, he was walking home when two men who recognized him from Empire, a TV show where Smollett played a gay, black musician for 4 years, started hurling racist and homophobic abuses at him.
When the Chicago police arrived, Smollett was still wearing a noose supposedly put over his head by the 2 men whom Smollett didn’t know. According to Smollett, these men, one white, were yelling “This is Maga country,” referring to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. They also threw bleach on him, punched him in the face and yelled racist and homophobic slurs according to Smollett.
Hearing this story, when it first happened, convinced most people that it definitely sounded like a horrific hate crime. Many celebrities and social media supported this victim in addition to the Democrats who called it as another example of racism and bigotry under the Trump administration, Republicans alleged that the attack was an attempt to villainise the former president’s supporters as racist.
The following month it was found that Smollett orchestrated the attack in order to get more publicity for his career and a better salary. He sent himself the disparaging letter, and hired 2 Nigerian brothers who he knew from playing extras on Empire, at a cost of $3,500. Olabinjo, one of the brothers, testified that he could not manage to get the rope around Smollett’s neck on the night of the attack. By the time police arrived to question Smollett, it was around his neck – which suggests he put it there himself
Reports alleged that the actor tried to use his influence on Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who recused herself just before her office dropped 16 felony charges. Sometimes it pays to know people, until it backfires.
Fortunately, there is some justice in Chicago. An investigation ensued to find out the facts of this case and why the charges were dropped. The charges were reinstated on February 11, 2020, and the actor pleaded not guilty on February 24th.
The big day final came. No, not The Oscars, but the trial that determined this actor was guilty of 5 counts of felony. Smollett will spend 150 days in jail, 30 months on probation, and ordered to pay restitution of just over $120,000 plus a $25,000 criminal fine.
After his sentence, Smollett was screaming, “I did not do this. If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it myself,” as left the courtroom with his fist raised, continuing to declare his innocence. “I could have said that I was guilty a long time ago.” This might be his last audition for the part he did get – Jail Time!
In addition, this pathetic person was fired from Empire, was the subject of ridicule by Black celebrities and the subject of a skit on SNL.
He, his supporters and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx refuse to take responsibility for their actions for a very expensive clown show. It was a faked hate crime, at the worst possible time for Chicago, and Smollett compounded his mistakes by continuously appearing on TV to continue the lies.
Will he get his career back? Time will tell.
Hope this clown Smollett is done. Racism & Bigotry at its highest. Can’t imagine what the View & Whoppi Goldberg think about this. Such a Jackass ! The judge should have given him more time. Let’s see how recovers from this. He will probably love being in jail.
R/ JV
I watched & listened to the judge’s final comments prior to issuing penance to Smollett .
The judge will (& has) come under fire & criticism for vocalizing his observations in his synopsis of the trial.
Based upon the witnesses testimonies and evidence brought forth, he, accurately, summarized Smollett as a liar! He did so, based upon the facts, which were, again, surfaced during the trial by professional investigators, eye-witnesses and documentation by the Chicago police.
Predictably, the Caucasian-white judge is, now, being labeled – yep, you guessed it! A racist!!
Again, the “Race Card” surfaces at Mach3. Fling facts and evidence to the street and introduce emotional turpitude! Why? Because emotion cannot be argued.
However, when those who pressed to identify, specifically, what was racist about the judge’s remarks… they, in turn, were condemned as being racist! The resultant actions of the attackers were, pure, juvenile: screaming, stamping feet, threatening, fist-shaking, yelling, fabricating ‘facts’, condemnation…
And, there’s the societal division — reason vs. emotion.
Post sentencing, Smollett stood and blurted, “I am NOT suicidal! I am NOT SUICIDAL!! If anything happens to me in there, it wasn’t me”. Eluding, should he become injured or meet with premature demise, it would be due to those responsible for managing the detainment facility. I pity him as I do the likes of Alec Baldwin (his day will come, too) and Harvey Weinstein!
Is there an inherent theme surfacing, here, from a world of actors?
OR is there a world of actors, here, that are surfacing from an inherent theme?
UPDATE:
6 days after he was put in jail, Smollett was granted a release on bond from the Cook County Jail in Illinois pending the appeal of his conviction. A panel of three appellate judges came down with the ruling in a 2-1 decision granting the former “Empire” star’s release after posting a personal recognizance bond of $150,000.
What’s next? We’ll just have to watch the movie, staring Jussie Smollett as himself as he tries to resurrect his career.