On January 29, 2019, American actor Jussie Smollett reported a hate crime to the Chicago Police Department, an incident that would later be revealed as a meticulously staged hoax. Smollett, who was a cast member on the television drama Empire , claimed he was attacked by two masked men in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood. The alleged attackers, according to Smollett, shouted racial and homophobic slurs, poured an unknown chemical substance on him, and wrapped a rope around his neck. He also stated that the attackers yelled, 'This is MAGA country!' during the incident, referencing the Trumpist political slogan 'Make America Great Again'.
The investigation by the Chicago Police Department uncovered that Smollett had orchestrated the fake hate crime with the help of two Nigerian-American brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo. The brothers, who had worked as extras on the set of Empire , were paid $3,500 by Smollett to stage the attack. Surveillance footage and other evidence revealed that the brothers purchased the rope and other materials used in the hoax. The plan included staging the attack near a surveillance camera to ensure it would be captured on video and potentially publicized on social media.
The Investigation and Charges
On February 13, 2019, Chicago police raided the home of the Osundairo brothers and found evidence linking them to the staged attack. This led to Smollett being charged with disorderly conduct for filing a false police report on February 20, 2019. Initially, Smollett's defense team reached a deal with prosecutors on March 26, 2019, where all charges were dropped in exchange for Smollett performing community service and forfeiting his $10,000 bond. However, this decision was widely criticized, and the case was later reopened.
In December 2021, Smollett was found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about the alleged attack. He was subsequently sentenced to 150 days in county jail, 30 months of felony probation, and ordered to pay restitution of $120,106 and a $25,000 fine in March 2022. Smollett was released from jail after six days due to an ongoing appeal of his conviction.
Aftermath and Reflections
Jussie Smollett has since reflected on the emotional aftermath of the hoax and his legal ordeal. In an interview with People magazine, Smollett described feeling 'numb' and unable to make sense of the public's reaction. He acknowledged the 'dark day' of his arrest and the challenges it posed to his mental and emotional well-being. Despite maintaining his innocence, Smollett emphasized the need to move forward and acknowledged his privilege in being able to navigate the legal system with more resources than many others.
The Osundairo brothers, in a recent interview, detailed their involvement in the hoax and Smollett's motivations. They stated that Smollett wanted to be a 'poster child' for activism and that the hoax was intended to garner more attention and sympathy. The brothers also discussed how they were in character during the staged attack and how the incident was designed to incite outrage against perceived racism in Trump's America.
The Jussie Smollett case highlights the complexities and consequences of fabricating hate crimes. It has sparked significant discussions about the impact of such actions on public perception and the legal system. For more information on hate crimes and their legal implications, you can refer to the hate crime page on Wikipedia.
