Actor Jussie Smollett is reportedly on his way to rehab, facing some challenging years ahead as he gears up to challenge his conviction in Chicago.
The Empire star has lodged an appeal against his December 2021 conviction for orchestrating a fake anti-gay, racist attack on himself and then lying to Chicago police about it.
Jussie Smollett is currently in an outpatient facility at an undisclosed location, as reported by TMZ. A spokesperson for the actor stated, "Jussie has been through some really tough times lately, quietly working hard for quite some time, and we're proud of him for taking these necessary steps."
Although the exact reason for Smollett's rehab stay is unclear, trial testimony hinted at his heavy drug use. He called for a new trial in March after being imprisoned for staging the attack.
During the police investigation, Chicago authorities concluded that Smollett had hired the Osundairo brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo, to carry out the staged crime, resulting in a 150-day jail sentence last year.
In a 102-page appeal, Smollett's legal team argued that his constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial were violated due to prosecutorial misconduct, including allegations that a defense witness was coerced to change his statement and shifting the burden during closing arguments.
Smollett was convicted in December on five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about a fake racist, anti-gay attack he claimed was carried out by Trump supporters who shouted, "This is MAGA country." He reported being accosted on a dark street by two masked strangers who threw a noose around his neck, doused him with chemicals, and hurled racist and homophobic slurs while expressing support for then-President Donald Trump. Notably, the Osundairo brothers, who are black, testified that Smollett had hired them to stage the attack to boost his celebrity status.
Smollett surprised the court by claiming that the days leading up to the staged attack were spent rehearsing and smoking marijuana with the brothers. He also made shocking claims of intimate encounters with one of the brothers. Smollett argued that the attack was staged by the brothers to convince him he needed bodyguards and to secure employment from him.
In March 2022, three months after his felony disorderly conduct conviction, Smollett received a 150-day jail sentence, but he was released pending an appeal after six days in custody.
Following these events, the Osundairo brothers filed a defamation lawsuit, alleging that Smollett's statements were an attempt to paint them as racist, homophobic, and violent attackers.
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