The latest turn in the whirlwind case comes after a recent ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court.
“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett will forgo a five-month prison sentence as the Illinois Supreme Court overturned his conviction relating to an alleged hate crime hoax.
The case first hit the headlines, and never left for months on end, when Smollet first reported that he was a victim of a hate crime. Two strangers allegedly attacked him outside of his downtown Chicago home while hurling homophobic and racist slurs at the actor. Months later, the media attention intensified when Smollett was convicted with staging the incident as evidence showed the actor partying and supposedly knowing the alleged attackers.
The state’s attorney’s office would later drop the case in a controversial deal — Smollet would give up his $10,000 bond in exchange for performing 15 hours of community service. Interestingly, the case was re-investigated by a special prosecutor and included testimony from the alleged attackers — two brothers named Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo.
They testified that Smollett asked them to carry out the attack, going into great detail on how to carry out the attack. The “Empire” actor would give them $100 to get supplies, including ski masks and a red hat, which was to indicate the attackers’ support of then-president Donald Trump. During the alleged attack, the supposed attackers yelled out: “This is MAGA country.”
Smollett spent six days of a five-month sentence, ultimately being released on appeal. His lawyers argued that charging the actor a second time was a violation of his rights. The courts would later agree, ruling to overturn his conviction via Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford’s 5-0 opinion.
Following the news, the Osundairo brothers — the alleged attackers — did an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Fox News, noting how he never copped to what he did.
“We were taken aback initially, not because of the Supreme Court’s decision, but because Jussie never admitted guilt,” Abel Osundairo said. “Jussie should have admitted guilt, and that’s where we stand.”
Ola chimed in by stating how the real injustice was the “sweetheart deal” given to Smollett by Kim Foxx, the Cook County State’s Attorney. Abel claims that if it were a regular person instead of someone of Smollett’s caliber, they wouldn’t have been offered the deal.
Abel went to explain the brothers’ relationship with the actor now, and whether the actor paid them for their participation in the incident.
“We have not spoken to him since. Yes, he did pay us at first,” Ola said. “He still owes us $500, but I don’t think we’re going to see that.”
The brothers would discuss that no one, especially those in their personal circle, believes Smollett’s calls of innocence — “not even Pinnochio” as Abel put it. Abel also said that Smollet made it seem like faking similar incidents was common in Hollywood, using Kim Kardashian’s Paris robbery in 2016 as an example.
As the brothers took to Fox News to discuss their reaction to the news, Nenye Uche, Smollett’s lawyer who led his defense at trial, celebrated the ruling as he spoke during a press conference on Thursday. Uche noted that Smollett was grateful for the decision and was ready to move onto the next chapter of his life.
Comments