January 29, 2019, 2 AM: Called Chicago police reporting racist and homophobic attack.
Claim: Two men in MAGA hats poured bleach on him, put noose around his neck, yelled slurs.
February 2019: Chicago police investigation finds he paid two brothers $3,500 to stage the attack.
March 2019: Arrested, charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct.
December 2021: Found guilty, sentenced to 150 days in jail.
Career: Destroyed. Fired from Empire, $1.8 million lost, unhirable in Hollywood.
This is how Jussie Smollett went from breakout TV star to convicted criminal—by staging the dumbest fake hate crime in modern history that surveillance cameras caught from beginning to end.
The Rising Star (1982-2014)
Born June 21, 1982
Birthplace: Santa Rosa, California
Family: Mother (Janet Smollett), 5 siblings (all in entertainment)
Early career:
- Child actor (1990s)
- The Mighty Ducks (1992)
- Various TV guest roles
Adult career:
- Small TV roles
- Music (R&B singer)
- Not a star, but working actor
By 2014: 32 years old, decent career but no breakthrough
Empire: The Breakthrough (2015-2019)
January 7, 2015: Empire Premieres
Network: FOX
Show: Drama about hip-hop music empire family
His role: Jamal Lyon, gay son of family patriarch
Significance:
- Rare: Black gay character on mainstream TV
- Central role, not token
- Representation mattered
Premiere ratings: 9.9 million viewers
By Season 2: 16-17 million viewers (massive hit)
The Cultural Impact
Why Empire mattered:
- Black family drama
- Hip-hop culture on primetime
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Huge ratings
Jussie's character:
- Fan favorite
- "Coming out" storyline
- Musical performances
- Emmy buzz
His real life:
- Came out as gay (2015)
- Activist for LGBTQ+ rights
- Rising profile
The Money
Season 1 (2015): $20,000 per episode
Season 2-3 (2016-2017): $65,000 per episode
Season 4-5 (2018-2019): $125,000 per episode
Total Empire earnings: Approximately $1.8 million
Net worth by 2018: Estimated $500,000 (after taxes, expenses)
Plus: Music career, appearances, endorsements
Status: Comfortable, successful, rising star
January 29, 2019, 2 AM: The "Attack"
The 911 Call
Time: 2:00 AM
Location: Chicago (where Empire filmed)
Temperature: -20°F (polar vortex)
Jussie's call: He was attacked
His account:
- Walking home from Subway (sandwich shop)
- Two men approached
- Yelled racial slurs ("ft," "nr")
- Yelled "This is MAGA country!"
- Poured bleach on him
- Put noose around his neck
- Punched him
His state: Noose still around neck when police arrived
Police: Took report, treated as hate crime
January 29: The Public Response
Media: Immediate widespread coverage
Celebrities: Outpouring of support
- "We stand with Jussie"
- Condemned hate crime
- Politicians commented
Chicago PD: Opened investigation
The narrative: "This is Trump's America"
Jussie: Appeared on Good Morning America, emotional interview
His quote: "I want them to find the perpetrators"
Public sentiment: Overwhelming sympathy
February 2019: The Investigation Unravels
The Evidence
Police reviewed:
- Surveillance cameras in area
- His phone records
- Credit card transactions
- Witness statements
What they found:
- No video of attack itself
- Video of two men walking in area (but not attacking him)
- Jussie's Uber dropoff time didn't match his story
- He kept noose on for 42 minutes after attack (unusual)
- Sandwich still in hand (not dropped during fight)
February 13-14: The Brothers
Police identified: Two brothers (Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo)
Background:
- Nigerian-American
- Worked as extras on Empire
- Knew Jussie personally
February 13: Police arrested them at airport (returning from Nigeria)
Interrogation: They confessed
Their story:
- Jussie paid them $3,500
- Rehearsed the "attack"
- He bought rope for noose
- They bought red hats, bleach
- It was all staged
Evidence:
- Text messages between Jussie and brothers
- Check from Jussie for $3,500
- Receipt for rope
- Video of them buying supplies
February 20: The Press Conference
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson: Press conference
The bombshell: "Jussie Smollett staged the attack"
Charges: 16 counts of disorderly conduct (filing false police report)
Why he did it (per police): "Dissatisfied with his salary"
Wanted: Publicity to negotiate higher pay from Empire
The quote: "He took advantage of the pain and anger of racism"
Public reaction: Shock, anger, betrayal
March 2019: The Arrest and Initial Charges
The Legal Trouble
Charged: 16 felony counts
Each count: Filing false police report
Potential sentence: Up to 3 years in prison per count
Bail: $100,000
Arrested: March 21, 2019
Mugshot: Released publicly
The Cost to Chicago
Investigation cost: Over $130,000
- Hundreds of police hours
- Resources diverted from real crimes
City response: Sued Jussie for $130,000
March 26: Charges Dropped (Mysteriously)
Shocking development: Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx dropped all charges
No explanation given
Jussie: "I have been truthful"
Community service: 16 hours already completed
Forfeited: $10,000 bond
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: "This is a whitewash of justice"
Police: Furious
Public: Confused and angry
The suspicion: Political connections helped him
Special Prosecutor Appointed
Result of outcry: Special prosecutor Dan Webb appointed
Investigation: Whether charges were improperly dropped
Outcome (2020): Charges reinstated
New indictment: 6 counts (reduced from 16)
The Empire Fallout
Immediate Consequences
January 30, 2019 (day after "attack"): Massive support
February 20, 2019 (after arrest): Removed from final 2 episodes of Season 5
February 22: FOX statement: "Jussie's character removed"
Season 6 renewal: Not invited back
His response: "I did not do this"
Lost earnings:
- Season 5 final episodes: ~$250,000
- Season 6 (20 episodes): ~$2.5 million
- Total: $2.75 million
Career Destruction
Acting offers: Zero
Music: Attempted to release album (2021) - nobody cared
Endorsements: All canceled
Social media: Unfollowed by celebrities, fans
Public image: Destroyed
Hireable: No studio would touch him
The Trial (November-December 2021)
The Evidence
Prosecution showed:
-
The check: $3,500 to brothers
-
Text messages:
- Planning the "attack"
- Rehearsal times
- What to say
- Surveillance video:
- Brothers buying supplies
- Dry run of attack
- Actual staging
- Brothers' testimony:
- Detailed account of staging
- Jussie's instructions
- Payment
- His lies:
- Told police attackers were white (brothers are Black)
- Said he didn't know them (they worked on Empire)
His Defense
Jussie testified:
- Brothers attacked him to extort money
- $3,500 was for nutrition/training plan
- Never asked them to stage attack
- He's the real victim
Defense strategy: Attack brothers' credibility
Problem: Too much evidence contradicted his story
December 9, 2021: Guilty Verdict
Verdict: Guilty on 5 of 6 counts
Each count: Disorderly conduct (filing false police report)
Reaction:
- Jussie: Claimed innocence
- Prosecutors: Vindication
- Public: Justice served
March 10, 2022: Sentencing
Sentence:
- 150 days in Cook County Jail
- 30 months probation
- $120,106 restitution (investigation costs)
- $25,000 fine
His reaction in court:
- Shouted "I am not suicidal!"
- Raised fist
- Claimed innocence
Time served: 6 days (released pending appeal)
Appeal: Filed immediately
The Appeal (2024)
Status: Ongoing
His argument: Trial was unfair
Likelihood of success: Legal experts say low
Current status: Convicted felon
The Financial Destruction
Lost Income
Immediate (2019-2021):
- Empire salary: $2.75 million
- Other acting: $1+ million
- Endorsements: $500,000
- Total: $4+ million
Long-term career damage:
- Would have continued acting
- Possible film roles
- Music career
- Lifetime loss: $10-20 million
Legal Costs
Defense lawyers: Estimated $500,000+
Restitution: $120,106
Fine: $25,000
City of Chicago lawsuit: Settled (amount undisclosed, likely $100K+)
Total legal costs: $750,000+
Net Worth
2018: ~$500,000
2024: Likely negative (debt from legal fees)
Why He Did It
The Salary Theory
Police claim: Wanted higher Empire salary
Evidence:
- Letter sent to Empire studio (week before attack) with death threat
- Thought attack would make him more valuable
His salary: $125,000/episode
What he wanted: Unknown, but more
Reality: Destroyed $4+ million to try to get raise
The Attention Theory
Alternative: Wanted publicity for career
Context:
- Music career not taking off
- Empire was his only success
- Wanted to be bigger star
Method: Controversy creates conversation
Problem: Wrong kind of controversy
The Victimhood Currency Theory
Most cynical take: Weaponized identity politics
The calculation:
- Hate crime victim = sympathy
- Sympathy = support
- Support = career boost
What he underestimated: How thoroughly police investigate
The Damage Beyond Himself
Real Hate Crime Victims
The impact:
- Made people skeptical of real victims
- "Remember Jussie Smollett" becomes response
- Actual victims face more doubt
LGBTQ+ advocates: "He set us back"
Anti-racism groups: "Made our work harder"
Chicago PD Resources
130+ man hours on fake crime
While: Real crimes going unsolved
Cost: $130,000+ taxpayer money
Police morale: Damaged
Political Exploitation
Used by right-wing:
- "This is what the left does"
- Undermined real hate crime reporting
Used by left:
- Initially as proof of "Trump's America"
- Then embarrassment when proved false
Net effect: Deepened political divide
The Unrepentant Stance
Never Admitted It
To this day: Maintains innocence
Despite:
- Guilty verdict
- Overwhelming evidence
- Brothers' testimony
His narrative: "They lied to save themselves"
Public response: "You're only making it worse"
The Interviews
Post-conviction appearances:
- Small podcasts
- No major media
His message: "I was wrongly convicted"
Interviewer pushback: "The evidence is overwhelming"
Result: Looks delusional
From $125K Per Episode to Convicted Felon
2015: Breakout role on hit show
2018: $125,000 per episode, rising star
January 2019: Staged fake hate crime
February 2019: Caught by surveillance and investigation
March 2019: Arrested (charges later dropped, then reinstated)
December 2021: Convicted
2024: Convicted felon, $4+ million lost, career destroyed
The span: From success to ruin in 5 years
The Lesson
You can:
- Be talented
- Have a breakthrough role
- Make $125K per episode
- Be an activist
- Have public support
But:
If you stage a hate crime, lie to police, waste police resources, and get caught on camera:
You will lose everything.
No amount of talent saves you.
No amount of identity protection saves you.
The truth always comes out.
Especially when you pay by check.
This is MAGA Country
Four words that became his downfall.
At 2 AM.
In -20°F Chicago.
Said by two Nigerian brothers he paid $3,500.
Who were caught on surveillance.
That's how you destroy a $1.8 million career and become a punchline.
Jussie Smollett staged a hate crime.
Got caught.
Lied about it.
Got convicted.
And will forever be known as the guy who paid for a fake hate crime with a personal check.
That's not victimhood.
That's stupidity.
