Empire actor jussie smollett fox news

Jussie Smollett, an American actor and singer, was a main cast member on the Fox drama series "Empire" from 2015 to 2018. He played the role of Jamal Lyon, a gay character and one of the five Lyon siblings.

In January 2019, Smollett reported to the Chicago Police Department that he was the victim of a hate crime. He claimed that two masked men, who were allegedly supporters of President Donald Trump, attacked him while he was walking home from a Subway restaurant in the early hours of January 29. Smollett alleged that the attackers yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him, poured bleach on him, and put a noose around his neck.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many celebrities and public figures expressing support for Smollett and condemning the alleged attack. However, the investigation into the incident was met with skepticism and controversy, with some questioning the details of Smollett's account.

In February 2019, the Chicago Police Department announced that they had identified two suspects in the case, brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, who were also extras on "Empire." The brothers were questioned and released without charges, but the investigation continued.

On March 26, 2019, Smollett was charged with filing a false police report, a Class 4 felony, after the Chicago Police Department concluded that he had staged the attack. Smollett's legal team denied the allegations, and he maintained that he was the victim of a real hate crime.

In April 2019, Smollett's lawyers released a statement saying that the actor had been the target of a "lynching" and that the charges against him were "prosecutorial overkill." The statement also accused the Chicago Police Department of "racism" and "homophobia."

On March 14, 2020, Smollett's trial began, with the prosecution presenting evidence that the actor had orchestrated the attack to gain sympathy and attention. The defense argued that the prosecution's case was based on circumstantial evidence and that Smollett was the victim of a real hate crime.

On February 20, 2021, Smollett was found guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct for making false reports to the police. He was acquitted of the more serious charge of felony disorderly conduct.

In March 2021, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail, with 30 days already served, and 20 months of probation. He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and pay a $10,000 fine.

The case against Smollett was widely covered by Fox News and other media outlets, with many of the network's hosts and commentators criticizing the actor and questioning the details of his account.