Within the yr since Jussie Smollett instructed Chicago police that he was the sufferer of a homophobic and racist assault, there was one stunning growth after one other. Investigators looked for the perpetrators of what was initially described as a “doable hate crime” earlier than finally accusing the actor of staging his personal assault.
The Empire star reported that he was attacked within the early hours of January 29, 2019. Days later, he spoke out for the primary time because the incident, stating that he was “working with authorities and [has] been 100 p.c factual and constant on each stage.” He additionally returned to work, performing a live performance in West Hollywood earlier than returning to the set of his Fox musical drama.
Smollett appeared on Good Morning America in February 2019, for his first interview in regards to the alleged assault. He turned emotional at one level, saying that he was “endlessly modified” and felt “pissed off” by each the incident itself and the skepticism swirling on social media.
A serious growth within the case got here that very same month, when police arrested two doable suspects, however they had been launched quickly after with out prices. A number of studies later surfaced accusing the actor of staging the assault with the assistance of Abimbola “Bola” Osundairo and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo, which he repeatedly and vehemently denied.
Nevertheless, in February 2019, he was charged with felony disorderly conduct for making a false police report. The following morning, he was arrested. He was subsequently charged with 16 felony counts.
In one other stunning reversal, Smollett’s attorneys introduced in March 2019, that Prepare dinner County prosecutors dropped all charges against him and “his record has been wiped clean.”
“After reviewing all the info and circumstances of the case, together with Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service locally and settlement to forfeit his bond to the Metropolis of Chicago, we consider this final result is a simply disposition and applicable decision to this case,” the Prepare dinner County State’s Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement on the time.
Nevertheless, almost a yr later, in February 2020, a particular prosecutor Dan Webb indicted Smollett again, renewing the divisive case. The indictment in opposition to Smollett said that he “knew on the time” that there was no crime when he reported to the police that he had been assaulted.
In December 2021, Smollett took the stand the place he defined that the assault was “no hoax.”
“My character was a celebrity, a pop star, a beloved GQ no matter,” he instructed the jury, in accordance with the Tribune. “It was essential that I regarded like Black Cary Grant, not beat down.”
Scroll down for a complete timeline to remain up-to-date on every thing we all know in regards to the story up to now:
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