Jussie Smollett, the disgraced actor best known for staging a hate crime against himself in 2019, recently swore by his thoroughly debunked claims in a bizarre Instagram rant.
Smollett generated international headlines when he claimed two men dressed in Trump gear jumped him in 2019. The “Empire” actor claimed the men yelled “this is MAGA country” while dumping bleach on him.
He also claimed the alleged assailants tied a “noose” around his neck, which was found to be a thin piece of string that he wore when reporting the incident to investigators.
The story soon drew scrutiny due to the near sub zero temperatures at the time of the alleged attack, as well as numerous inconsistencies with Smollet’s story. Two Nigerian brothers then admitted to law enforcement that Smollett paid them to stage the “attack,” which led to Smollett’s arrest for disorderly conduct and filing a false police report.
Smollett was ultimately convicted of the crime in 2021, though he ultimately served just six days of a 180-day jail sentence.
Despite his conviction, Smollett recently emerged from relative obscurity and stood by his claims in a bizarre Instagram screed. “Over six years ago, after it was reported I had been jumped, City Officials in Chicago set out to convince the public that I willfully set an assault against myself. This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear,” Smollett wrote on Instagram last Saturday.
“These officials wanted my money and wanted my confession for something I did not do. Today, it should be clear…They have received neither.”
In addition to the criminal case, Smollett was sued by the City of Chicago for $130,000 in order to cover costs stemming from the bogus investigation. The “Might Ducks” actor and the Windy City have now settled the suit, with Smollett agreeing to pay $60,000 to two Chicago-based charitable organizations instead of paying the city directly.
The 42-year-old will donate $50,000 to nonprofit Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts and “an additional” $10,000 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center, according to the Instagram post.
After the Illinois Supreme Court overturned his five felony convictions in a highly controversial decision, Smollett is now celebrating his “innocence.”
“However, despite arduous and expensive attempts to punish me, I am innocent in the eyes of God and our criminal justice system,” Smollett wrote in the post. “I will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear and defending my integrity and family name with the truth,” he continued.
“To everyone who has supported me, thank you. Your prayers and belief in me mean more than words can properly express,” he wrote before concluding the post, “With Love & Respect, Jussie Smollett.”
Despite the fact that Smollett was able to have his criminal convictions overturned, state officials have been adamant in asserting that it had nothing to do with his supposed innocence.
“Make no mistake: Today’s ruling has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett’s innocence,” special prosecutor Dan Webb said in a statement at the time.
“The Illinois Supreme Court did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial… or the jury’s unanimous verdict that Mr. Smollett was guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct,” Webb stated.
