By Farouq Edu
Published on 4th of December 2021
The trial for the high-profile actor Jussie Smollet began this Monday in Chicago as he faces six counts for making false reports of an at
tack on the police.
The star on this hit fox show ‘ ‘Empire had claimed that he had been a victim of a homophobic and racist attack on January 25th, 2019 in Chicago. Smollett made a report to the police that two men beat him up, put a noose around his neck, and screamed out racial and homophobic ‘MAGA slurs at him. As the police investigated, it was discovered that the two men were Nigerian brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundario. They testified the whole incident was rigged and paid for by Smollett. Smollett however denies these claims.
On Tuesday, Abimbola testified saying that Smollett planned it all and asked them to stage an attack and to make sure they filmed it. Ambimbola says he was baffled and confused but he felt he needed to do what the actor had asked because Smollet could help him further his acting career. It was allegedly all planned in an alleyway in downtown Chicago. The conversation also allegedly took place in a parked car where they had lengthy discussions on how to approach the attack. There is also evidence that shows Smollet speaking with the brothers to get the plan in motion including private DM’s on Instagram. On top of this, Abimbola claimed he and his brother Olabinjo were paid $3,500 dollars each by the actor once the deal was executed. The brothers stated that Smollet told them that he wanted more publicity and an increase in pay by the Empire show producers. Abimbola also mentioned that Smollett faked a letter to the showrunners of a picture sent to the network of a stick figure hanging with a noose around his neck. Smollett was disappointed with the reaction so allegedly he decided to take it a step further. He then called the cops knowing it was a facade. All of this was, however, denied by the defendant.
His Defense Lawyer Nenye Uche has painted Smollet to be completely innocent and also claimed that the money Smollett paid the brothers was to train him for an upcoming music video. She also said that the brothers didn’t actually like him and saw him as a target. Uche also stated “This rush to judgment has destroyed Jussie’s life” The case also impacted the defendant by him being written off the hit show Empire and not being present for the last and final sixth season of the show. If Jussie wanted to be credited more and taken more seriously then his actions would have backfired, says one of the prosecutors. The defendant has pleaded not guilty but if he is found guilty he could be facing up to three years in prison and a 25,000 dollar fine
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/02/us/jussie-smollett-trial/index.html
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