Hollywood
Jussie Smollett Officially Pleads Not Guilty To Claims He Staged A Hate Crime
By Bridget Hill
Mar 14, 2019 1:45 PM
Source: TVOverMind.com
Jussie Smollett was recently indicted on 16 felony counts related to the hate crime hoax that he facilitated back in January of this year. Today, Thursday, Mr. Smollett pleaded not guilty in a Chicago courtroom on claims that he lied to the authorities and reported he was a victim of a hate crime.
As it was previously reported, Jussie claimed that two men, two Donald Trump supporters, attacked him in the early hours of a Chicago morning shortly after he left a Subway restaurant.
The Empire actor claims the perpetrators shouted racist and homophobic slurs, threw bleach at him, and then tied a noose around his neck. Immediately, there was an outpouring of support for Mr. Smollett.
However, many people on social media seriously questioned the allegations right from the start due to several plotholes as well as straight up unbelievable-sounding claims.
JUSSIE SMOLLETT IN COURT: #JussieSmollett arrives at a courthouse in Chicago, to enter his plea over charges accusing him of lying to the police about being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. pic.twitter.com/l2MNs4H6dp
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 14, 2019
Jussie Smollett is a black and gay man, so during his interview with the mainstream media afterward, the actor claimed we lived in a racist and homophobic society. Additionally, he referred to himself as the “gay Tupac.”
Allegedly, Mr. Smollett staged the attack in an attempt to improve his career. After police investigated, they discovered interesting details that called the authenticity of the incident into question.
After he was charged, he had to be let out on a $100,000 bail. Jussie, via his attorneys-at-law, denied the claims that he staged the hate crime, and said he had nothing to do with the assault. Interestingly, it was actually two black men – Nigeran-Americans – who helped staged the attack on Mr. Smollett.
The two brothers went on to help the department with their case against the actor. Following his interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, Jussie disappeared from the public’s view.
Sources claim Jussie is now trying to defend himself out of the hole he dug for himself, as it’s the only thing that can save his career as well as the future of his life, at this point. It’s unclear if Jussie is actually guilty of the crime’s he’s been charged with, but social media has unabashedly convicted him.