Prosecutors have dropped all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging a homophobic and racist attack, following a court hearing in Chicago yesterday. Earlier this month, the star pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police.
Originally, the actor claimed he was attacked in outside a sandwich shop by two masked men who poured bleach on him, put a rope round his neck, and shouted racist and homophobic slurs, along with “This is Maga country". Later, police said he paid two brothers $3,500 to stage the attack because he wanted a higher salary on Empire.
Following his court appearance, the actor said: "I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one. I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I've been accused of." His family said yesterday in a statement: “Jussie is a son, a brother, a partner, a champion for human rights, and a genuine soul who would never be capable of what he was falsely accused of. He was the victim of an assault and then falsely blamed for his own attack. This morning truth has prevailed and he has been vindicated."
The office of Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx said in a statement: "After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr Smollett's volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case."
The city's mayor, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, slammed the decision to drop the charges, describing it as a "whitewash of justice" and accused the actor of making up a hate crime "in the name of self-promotion." But his attorneys, Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes, said their client's record "has been wiped clean".