Jussie Smollett was found guilty of felony disorderly conduct in December 2021 for allegedly staging a hate crime. The openly gay actor, who was starring on Empire at the time, has maintained his innocence since the alleged attack took place in January 2019.
Even so, he spent six days in jail on what was supposed to be a 150-day sentence, but he appealed. In a new interview with Sway In The Morning, Smollett opened about the public ridicule he faced as a result of the controversy. He again denied staging an attack.
“If I had done this, I’d be a piece of shit,” he told hosts Sway Calloway and Heather B. “And I don’t think that that’s really questionable […] Again, it’s something I wanted to say. If I did something like this, it would mean I stuck my fist in the pain of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years. We’re not even talking about in Africa because that’s an even deeper, larger conversation. It would mean that I stuck my first in the fears of the LGBTQ community all over the world.
Jussie Smollett Sentenced To 150 Days In Jail As Judge Tells Him He's 'Destroyed' His Life
“I’m not that mother fucker. Never have been. Don’t need to be. Didn’t need to have some sort of rise in his career. I was on the up and up. […] There would be no reason for me to do some dumb, corny shit like that. But people are going to believe what they’re going to believe.”
Jussie Smollett, who refused to eat while behind bars, also talked about what it was like being in the jail’s psych ward. He was reportedly held there out of fear for his safety, although he denied he was suicidal.
“There was a part when they told me I was getting out,” he said. I’m in the fucking psych ward. I wasn’t in a jacket, but I was sleeping on a restraint bed. Everybody inside was very kind. When I left, I thanked them all.”
Despite everything Smollett endured over the last three years, he seems to be in good spirits. He made his directorial debut with B-Boy Blues, which originally premiered at the 2021 American Black Film Festival and debuted on BET+ on June 9.
“My spirit is so… in such a season of gratitude,” he said. “Like my, my spirit is, I’ve never felt more, more clear, I’ve never felt more sober. I’ve never felt more, I hope people don’t take that outta context, but I’m sure they will…. Yeah. But um, I’ve never felt healthier and more grateful and more, I’ve never felt more blessed than I feel now.
“So, my spirit is, you know, is really good. I’m still, you know, still dealing with things still, you know, having to, you know, I’m not shy to say that I am in therapy, as we all should be because a lot of stuff that happened over the last three years, obviously, but also just, you know, just life stuff. You gotta be able to, you gotta be able to train your mind and not just train your body, you know, to be healthy and to be beautiful.”
Yeah ok, CAPtain.
This dude just keeps lying and no one’s gonna call him out cuz they’re afraid of being canceled. Gay privilege is real.
I bet he regrets walking to get that sandwich at 2am at below freezing temperatures everyday…
If anyone actually believes him I have oceanfront property to sell you in Iowa.
How do this piece of trash liar have the balls to go and give interviews
Add him to the “I’m the victim here!” Hall Of Fame along with Trump and all the other narcissistic a-holes who can’t own their crimes so they blame everyone else.
This Jussie (what kind of a made up name is that?) Smollett is the exactly what the country needs as a wake up call. He LIED and continues to LIE in order to get press at any expense, really is a shame that he is still around. Back in the early 1990’s he made this horrible sitcom with his siblings, On Our Own and it was HORRIBLY BAD. None of them could really act, it was half baked and had a terrible plot. In the years since his siblings have never attempted at making much and that’s good. After watching his sisters and family defend him in court, one can only see how morally bankrupt they are. I hope America just CANCELS the entire Smollett family into the dust bin of history! Never hire this guy ever again, no movies, no tv series, not even a commercial…let him work a 9 to 5 job like everyone else. Also, let the LGBTQ community BOYCOTT anything that he is on, don’t watch him,don’t give him your money and let’s never support this backstabber ever again!!!! Get rid of this moocher.
I dont understand how anyone can doubt this guy. I run into large black mega-hat wearing guys who happen to carry bleach and rope on the way to Subway in freezing temperatures at 2AM every damn day. Pretty plausible to me.
He has a fist up his arce. Jussie is a fuck celebrity boy. He’s not legit a font a fake a pussy a man lowers then a stan
you mean lower than a kanye west fan get it right bitch
Lying piece of garbage. He’s convinced himself he didn’t do it. He needed more time in the psych ward. These people think so highly of themselves.