Jussie Smollett Says ‘There Was No Hoax’ During ‘Hate Crime’ Trial - Forbes

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Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett denied staging a fake hate crime attack as he took the stand Monday in his trial, where he claimed that the money he paid his alleged attackers was for legitimate business expenses and he had previously done drugs and had a romantic relationship with one of the men involved.

Key Facts

Smollett, 39, testified that “there was no hoax,” according to Fox News, as he faces six counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report — which prosecutors say he did after staging a hate crime attack against himself.

While prosecutors have argued that Smollet paid two men — Abimbola and Olabingo Osundairo — to help orchestrate the attack — Smollett said that wasn’t the case.

Smollett told the court that he had a past romantic relationship with Abimbola Osundairo, one of the men who purportedly attacked him, and said that he and Abimbola met at a club, did drugs together, made out in a bathhouse and had sex, according to the Associated Press.

Smollett said that he paid the Osundairos $3,500 for advice relating to nutrition and personal training.

Last week, Abimbola denied having a sexual relationship with Smollett, and said Smollett paid him and his brother Olabingo $3,500 to stage the attack on him, according to The Daily Beast.

Crucial Quote

“[Smollett]

Chicago Sun Times

What To Watch For

During cross examination, Smollett is expected to face questioning as to why he didn’t help police in investigating the attack on him. Last week detective Detective Michael Theis testified that Smollett was uncooperative during the initial investigation into the attack, and that his probe ultimately determined that Smollett staged the attack on himself.

Key Background

In January,2019, Smollett told police he was attacked in the middle of the night on the street by two men who put a noose around his neck and yelled “MAGA country” at him because he is Black and openly gay. The Osundairos were arrested the next month, though they were never charged with anything. Police believe that Smollett staged the attack because he received a threatening letter at the studio where he filmed Empire and felt that executives did not take it seriously enough. Smollett’s attorneys have argued that the actor is “a real victim” of “a real crime.”