Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack “On Himself” Is Overturned

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned disgraced “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett’s hate crime hoax on Thursday, dropping all charges against him and ruling that he cannot be tried again.

Cook County’s State’s Attorney Kim Fox had initially struck a plea deal with Smollet, requiring the actor to forfeit his $10,000 bond and complete 15 hours of volunteer community service.

In March 2022, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in Cook County jail, 30 months of probation, pay a restitution of $120,106, and a fine of $25,000, after being found guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report after he hired two brothers from Nigeria to stage a fake hate crime against him. (Smollett had claimed he was physically attacked by two men wearing MAGA hats who put a rope around his neck, poured bleach on him, and shouted racial and homophobic slurs, before eventually yelling, “This is MAGA country!”)

Days later, however, Smollett was released from jail on bond pending his conviction appeal.

Earlier this year, the actor appealed his case to the Illinois Supreme Court in an attempt to try to convince the public that he really was attacked by homophobic racists during a 2:00 a.m. Subway sandwich run in Chicago in 2019.

Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb has issued a statement, saying he’s disappointed with the Illinois Supreme Court decision and respectfully disagrees with overturning Jussie Smollett’s criminal conviction. Webb made it clear the court’s decision has nothing to do with the actor’s guilt or innocence and he categorically believes Smollett is guilty of perpetrating a hate crime hoax against the city of Chicago.