So quick refresh for those who don't remember.
Jussie Smollett claimed to have been the victim of a racist attack by some mask wearing MAGA people who put a noose round his neck and sprayed some liquid over him when he went out to get a late night subway sandwich.
Things fell apart somewhat in the case when CCTV showed Smollett returning to his flat looking perfectly fine and not shaken at all with investigations leading to two brothers from Nigeria whom it was alleged Smollett hired to stage a fake attack on him and it only started to fall apart when Smollett was called in to pick out his attackers in a police line up and saw the two brothers there and suddenly refused to pick anyone from the line up saying he wanted to drop all charges against the attackers.
This led to a short time in court for Smollett over claims this was a set up because at the time Smollett had been trying to re-negotiate his contract on Empire and it was suggested was using the media attention on him, the push of now being seen as an activist who was attacked and the pressure that could bring with it to push the studio into a higher paying contract deal with him. Instead as it was suggested he staged it all Smollett was let go from Empire.
The trial however was cut short and the case closed after Smollett oh so kindly said the state could keep all the bail money he'd payed and it was decided he'd help the community voluntarily for a bit.
What's new
Jussie Smollett claimed to have been the victim of a racist attack by some mask wearing MAGA people who put a noose round his neck and sprayed some liquid over him when he went out to get a late night subway sandwich.
Things fell apart somewhat in the case when CCTV showed Smollett returning to his flat looking perfectly fine and not shaken at all with investigations leading to two brothers from Nigeria whom it was alleged Smollett hired to stage a fake attack on him and it only started to fall apart when Smollett was called in to pick out his attackers in a police line up and saw the two brothers there and suddenly refused to pick anyone from the line up saying he wanted to drop all charges against the attackers.
This led to a short time in court for Smollett over claims this was a set up because at the time Smollett had been trying to re-negotiate his contract on Empire and it was suggested was using the media attention on him, the push of now being seen as an activist who was attacked and the pressure that could bring with it to push the studio into a higher paying contract deal with him. Instead as it was suggested he staged it all Smollett was let go from Empire.
The trial however was cut short and the case closed after Smollett oh so kindly said the state could keep all the bail money he'd payed and it was decided he'd help the community voluntarily for a bit.
What's new
Jussie Smollett was ‘real victim’ of racist attack, lawyer says as trial begins
Ex-Empire actor is accused of hiring two men to fake an attack in Chicago but new evidence could support Smollett’s defense
www.theguardian.com
Ex-Empire actor is accused of hiring two men to fake an attack in Chicago but new evidence could support Smollett’s defense
So yeh apparently the brothers just happened to be there and happened to have a grudge against Smollett and did the attack because um............Defense attorney Nenye Uche said two brothers attacked Smollett in January 2019 because they didn’t like him, and that a $3,500 check the actor paid the men was for training so he could prepare for an upcoming music video, not as payment for staging a hate crime, as prosecutors allege.
Special prosecutor Dan Webb said the actor recruited the brothers to help him carry out a fake attack, then reported it to Chicago police, who classified it as a hate crime and spent 3,000 staff hours on the investigation........
“When he reported the fake hate crime that was a real crime,” said Webb.
Smollett is charged with felony disorderly conduct which carries a prison sentence of up to three years, but experts have said it is likely that if Smollett is convicted he would be placed on probation and perhaps ordered to perform community service.
Webb told jurors Smollett was unhappy about how the studio handled the letter he received. That letter included a drawing of a stick figure hanging from a tree and “Maga”, a reference to Trump’s Make America Great Again campaign slogan, Webb said.
He said Smollett then concocted the fake attack and had a “dress rehearsal” with the two brothers, who worked on the Empire set with Smollett, including telling them to shout racial and homophobic slurs and “Maga”. Smollett also told the brothers to buy ski masks, red hats and a rope, Webb told jurors.
But Uche said Smollett had turned down extra security when the studio offered it.
Jussie Smollett’s lawyer claims he was ‘a real victim’ during opening statements
Jussie Smollett’s attorney said the former “Empire” star was “a real victim” of a crime on Monday while prosecutors said he staged a hate crime during the opening arguments …
nypost.com
According to Webb, Smollett sent a text message to the brothers that said: “I want you to attack me, but when you hit me, I want you to kind of pull your punches a bit because I don’t want to get seriously hurt.”