- Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to 150 days in jail after he was convicted in 2021 on five felony counts of lying to the police.
- When he first came forward in January of this year, Smollett, a Black homosexual man from Chicago, said he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault. However, evidence produced in court indicated that he manufactured the incident and lied to authorities.
- During his 30-month criminal probation, Smollett will be permitted to travel. Also, he must pay the city of Chicago a fine of $25,000 and more than $120,000 in restitution.
- “I’m not suicidal, and I’m completely blameless in this situation. Your honour, I did not do anything “It’s time to move forward,” Smollett said after the judge handed down the punishment.
- It is “astonishing” how hypocritical Smollett has been, according to Linn, who also noted that he knew Smollett was raised to be sensitive to racial discrimination concerns.
- Though he claimed Smollett was “profoundly selfish and egotistical,” the judge noted that the actor had some positive traits.
- A statement made by Linn, “I feel that you have inflicted serious harm on hate crimes, on victims of hate crimes.” Smollett’s lie may have made victims more reluctant to come forward, he said.
- Jurors were urged to hand down a “adequate length of jail term” to Smollett by prosecutors. Police said Smollett incurred expenses for the city, and the prosecution wants to include in his punishment compensation for the extra hours that cops worked as part of the investigation.
- Smollett’s attorneys, on the other hand, argued that the actor, 39, should not be jailed since the loss of his acting career had already caused him enough pain.
- At least a half-dozen others, including Smollett’s 92-year-old grandmother Molly, testified about his persona.
- “Jussie is a true justice fighter, in my book. Throughout his life, he has worked tirelessly to combat injustice. Please, if you could, do not imprison him. Please bring me with him if you do “She replied.
- Smollett choose not to speak in front of the court.
- A corrosive substance was allegedly sprayed on Smollett after he was attacked on the street by two men in 2019. In addition, the actor claimed that a rope was put around his neck.
- The event aroused outrage around the country, but after just a few weeks of inquiry, Chicago police have concluded that actor Jussie Smollett made up the storey and are charging him with filing a fake police complaint. Smollett may face up to three years in prison for his involvement in the incident.
- It was then Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson’s assertion that Smollett used the sorrow and passion of racism to further his career. It leaves me scratching my head, wondering “why?”
- According to Johnson, Smollett spent $3,500 to manufacture the assault on himself and “bring Chicago’s image through the gutter.”
- Smollett maintained his narrative in court testimony in December, and refuted any suggestions that he orchestrated a fictitious assault, according to his testimony. On five charges of felony disorderly conduct, the jury found him guilty, but he was acquitted on the sixth count.
