A confident Jussie Smollett arrived at a Cook County courthouse for his arraignment on Thursday (March 14). As the disgraced Empire actor approached the building, he was greeted by the sounds of several protesters shouting, “We are here to support black people. We are here today today to support LGBTQ people.”
Shortly after proceedings began, Smollett and his legal team entered a plea of not guilty on all 16 felony counts. According to TMZ, he’ll be required at every upcoming court date and allowed to travel to Los Angeles and New York for appointments with his attorneys.
However, he’ll have to give the courts 48-hour notice and check back in within 24 hours when he returns to Chicago.
In January, Smollett told police he was brutally attacked by two men hurling racial and homophobic slurs at him. As the details surrounding the alleged assault started to take shape, investigators came to the conclusion the attack was staged.
As a result, Smollett was charged with a disorderly conduct felony. But earlier this month, a grand jury handed down the 16-count indictment, which Smollett’s attorney referred to as “overkill.”
Smollett is expected back in court next month.
[This article has been updated. The original version of the article was published on March 8, 2019 and can be found below.]
A grand jury has indicted Jussie Smollett on 16 felony accounts for filing false police reports about an alleged hate crime. According to CBS Chicago, a Cook County grand jury returned the 16-count felony indictment against him on Thursday (March 7).
Smollett was originally charged by the State Attorney’s Office with a disorderly conduct felony, but the new indictments compound Smollett’s situation even further.
The grand jury handed over two sets of charges: one for Smollett’s initial report to the Chicago Police Department and the other for Smollett’s second interview with investigators. Both are Class 4 felonies.
The indictment partially reads, “Jussie Smollett knew that at the time … there was no reasonable ground for believing that such offenses had been committed.”
Smollett allegedly staged the racist and homophobic attack outside of his Chicago apartment building in January. He told police he was attacked as he was walking home around 2 a.m. local time on January 29.
He said two masked men screamed “racist and homophobic slurs,” put a noose around his neck and poured a chemical (believed to be bleach) on them. One reportedly said, “This is MAGA country” while wearing a red hat associated with the Trump’s “Make America Great Again” initiative.
As police dove further into Smollett’s account, they determined the Empire actor had paid Nigerian brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo to stage the attack. CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar reported Smollett also ordered the Osundairo brothers to buy the noose, hat and masks at an Uptown hardware store.
The police also believe the scratches and bruises on Smollett’s face were likely self-inflicted, although the brothers did punch him.
Smollett allegedly staged the attack because he was upset about the salary Empire was paying him.
The disgraced actor is scheduled for arraignment on March 14.
Damn, homie fucked up. He’s gonna have to spend a lot of paper to get outta this one. All these shenanigans to get a raise… should’ve went on strike.
Throw this booty bandit Under the jail!
This poor man is the victim of systematic oppression, corrupt police, and being framed by them, for supposedly conducting a hoax hate crime. There is literally zero evidence that leads anyone to believe that the hate crime didn’t actually happen. He paid the two Nigerian men money to work out sessions. Not to act out a hate crime. I beleive that two white men wearing MAGA hats were roaming the streets after 2am in 20 degree weather, with the sole purpose of attacking Jussie Smollet with a noose and bleach.
Also, OJ Simpson never killed anyone, R Kelly is innocent, and EMinems Revival album was his best hip-hop masterpiece to date! If you can’t tell by now, I’m joking. Fuck Jussie. He’s a scumbag for what he did.
Was Revival that bad I don’t really remember lol
Hahahahaha. Nice. Make an example out of this race baiting idiot. I hope this makes all of this victim mentality idiots think twice. Someone needs to interview T.I. and killer Mike about this. Ask them about how Trump created this environment for him being attacked etc.
What victim mentality idiots are you referring to,?
Wow. You need examples? You must live on the moon and watch Nickelodeon all day. This guy for one. T.I. with that “UsorElse” racist bullshit. Kaepertrick. That 12 year old kid from the ATL mall. 21 Slaveage. Notice how there are no Latinos, Native Americans etc on that list. T.I. and Kaep talking about systematic racism wearing a $30,000 watch and living in 5000 square foot home. This bullshit is what got Trump elected. Bunch of cry babies.
I think you should research what a victim mentality is. Black people do actually have systemic issues that negatively affect them and their communities. There is evidence for them and the impact they have easily provable. Black people no matter how rich they are or what status they might hold are not displaying a victim mentality for bringing up problems the black community face.
He needs to be sent to prison.
He got one thing right though, this is #MAGA country.
Fuck your AGAM you racist bitch. Your mom should have Swallowed your ass.
Roast him and his fans. This guy was a beauty pageants no talent clown and now his money is running low because he paid these g’s to keep him afloat. Roast him he gives no fucks about the kids that were used.
That’s what this pos useful idiot gets! Juicy Mullet went on TV acting like a fool! Telling his bs story and making up shit along the way. This loser isn’t ever a good actor. Throw him in jail where he can sit and rot.
Everyone knows he not a good actor even a worse rapper thats why he had to stage this shit to begin with
Jussie’s guilty asf but his crime isn’t worth 16 damn felony counts…ridiculous. Meanwhile Paul Manafort only has to serve 47 months out of his 19 year minimum bid for money laundering and bank fraud…fucking America
I agree but unfortunatley thats how u.s has been since its founding wont ever change the rich and connected run this country cause our politicians allow themselfs to be bought so they can ge re elected republicans do it democrats do it but one thing we can do is make one hell of an example out of this fuck boy cause this racial tension bullshits gonna cause civil war 2 between us and our politicians divide us enough as it is i think he needs to be made an example of do no other idiots pull this shit theres enough real racism and hatred in the world we dont need money hungry despersae ass ho for men like jussie or anybody like him to be fabricating any
We the black delegation have decided that we are open to discussions, discounts, and trades for Jussie in this years upcoming racial draft.
All in favor of trading Jussie for Neil Patrick Harris say aye
Negotiation and discussions have also been opened for the re-acceptance of OJ Simpson. conditions will be discussed upon pending approval
When keeping it fake goes right…
TYgis is what Peele’s new movie Us is about. A black/gay man gets attacked by some Maga hat, homophobic racists. The twist is, it was him who was the racist homophobe after all. Hahahaha
Idiot left enough evidence, sound of just confessed.
I stopped caring about this a few weeks ago..
Most black ppl did. As it didnt fit their narrative so we didnt hear about it constantly for months
You stopped caring, yet clicked on the article and commented?!
Yeah…makes perfect sense.
So my comment gets deleted even though it had mad flames and contained 0 hate speech? Fuck you guys
Why Jussie? What a DUMB move on ur part! Granted, u are only worth 500k, but MOST don’t have that. U are handsome and obviously talented (IDK, since Im not an Empire fan) You could have gotten other work, if u were so displeased w/ur salary. Now you HAVE PRISON!
Look at this skin color? Is it black? Yes? Then it’s obvious HE DINDU N.UFF.IN
He’s half white silly
My man is innocent!
Jussie smollett represents most of black america in 2018. An attention seeker, Gay, a plotter and victim mentality.
its 2019
typo..point still stands
Well BLM, campaigns for that arab Kaepernick and Wakanda fever were at an all time high in 2018. So yes he actually is a perfect representation of black people in 2018.
He’s my dad
His lawyer is sexy.
This is:
(❌) America
(✔️) #MAGACOUNTRY
You see the mind set of a gay person. They do wrong but can’t admit what they do is wrong when it is totally totally wrong and against nature. They live in denial but karma will straighten shit out eventually
Well, I’ve seen two male dogs fuck before. Very gay, and in nature. You know what I’ve be NEVER seen in nature before? An angel. Idiot
Two Male dogs? You realise dogs only mate when a female is on heat and releases pheromones? Why do you fruity bastards always have to lie to justify your sodomy?
Lie to you? Dude, male dogs fuck each other. They don’t mate, moron. Gay sex isn’t mating. Did you just not go to school at all? Several different species of animals have gay sex, usually male in male, to display dominance. There are gay dogs. Male dogs that are only willing to attempt to breed (attracted to) male dogs. Moron. I’m a straight man. I’ve never been with another man, and have no interest in doing so. If you’re not down with sodomy or anal sex, that’s fine. If you don’t like gay people for whatever reason, that’s fine too. To say that gay sex, or sodomy, isn’t NATURAL is a flat out lie. Look it up. Nothing on Angels being real, I see.
Dogs tryto fuck your leg because you’re a female in heat that just released pheromones? And do YOU realize that realize is spelt with a Z, not a S? Hahaha. Look idiot, you obviously didn’t go to college, and probably can’t even spell science, let alone grasp basic biology. Here is a little well known, documented, and scientifically proven FACT for you: “NO species has been found in which homosexual behaviour has not been shown to exist, with the exception of species that never have sex at all, such as sea urchins and aphis. Moreover, a part of the animal kingdom is hermaphroditic, truly bisexual. For them, homosexuality is not an issue.” That’s compiled form studies at every major university ON EARTH. You learned something today. Mainly that you’re a bigot idiot who has problems with something other people do that doesn’t affect you, probably because you were assaulted and/or molested when you were younger, or most likely because you’re a closet homosexual, or gay curious. Also known as a Gaybe. Maybe gay.
This dude claimed guilty on the accusations he sent himself in that childish letter. He’s a N Word and a F Bomb. Smiley face emoji. Setting blacks and homosexuals back years. He might as well join the Klan. Hahahaha