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A DECISION in the Jussie Smollett trial is expected on Thursday after the jury ended its first day of deliberations on Wednesday.
Former Empire actor Smollett is accused of staging a racist, anti-gay attack against himself in downtown Chicago to get publicity.
Taking the witness stand earlier this week, Smollett repeatedly denied the attack was a fake, telling a prosecutor “there was no hoax on my part” and that two brothers who testified against him are “liars.”
In another tense moment, Smollett and prosecutor Dan Webb clashed over the use of the N-word. Webb had read the messages from Smollett’s messages, which prompted the star to ask him not to do it.
Smollett, 39, is charged with six counts of felony disorderly conduct for making what prosecutors say was a false police report about the alleged attack — one count for each time he gave a report — to three different officers.
He could face up to three years behind bars, but experts have said if Smollett is convicted, he would likely be placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.
Read our Jussie Smollett live blog for the latest news and updates…
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Don Lemon allegedly ‘tipped off’ Smollett
During the trial, Smollett testified that CNN host Don Lemon warned that cops didn’t believe he was the victim of a racist homophobic attack.
Smollett said he received a text from Lemon, Fox News reported.
In February 2019, Lemon said the case was “personal” since he and Smollett had been “acquaintances” and had communicated with each other.
Lemon claimed that the actor “lost the fight in the court of public opinion.”
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Closing arguments were on Wednesday
Closing arguments began Wednesday morning, after the trial kicked off last week.
Jussie Smollett testified Tuesday that he did not stage a fake hate crime and lie to police in 2019.
Jurors began delivering on Wednesday but did not reach a verdict.
They will continue deliberating on Thursday.
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What roles is Jussie Smollett known for?
The star began his career in Hollywood as a child actor appearing in films such as The Mighty Ducks and Rob Reiner’s North.
However, Smollett is widely recognized for portraying musician Jamal Lyon in the show Empire.
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Is Jussie Smollett married?
The former Empire actor has not been linked to anyone recently.
Smollett came out as gay during an interview with Ellen Degeneres in 2015, but said in a 2016 interview that he believes that open love is more important than gender.
“If I fall in love down the road with a woman, I’m going to love that woman,” he said in a 2016 interview with Out.
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Where is Jussie Smollett from?
The actor was born in Santa Rose, California. His family moved to Queens, New York, when he was two years old, and then to Los Angeles, California when he was around seven.
He began his acting career as a child model in New York City.
Smollett graduated from high school in Paramus, New Jersey.
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When did the trial start?
Smollett’s trial began on November 29, 2021.
On the same day, attorneys for the actor made a final attempt to have the case dismissed but the judge denied the motion.
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Who is Jussie Smollett?
The 39-year-old actor is best known for his portrayal of musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox hip-hop musical drama series Empire, for which he received great acclaim.
Smollett has also appeared in Ridley Scott’s science fiction film Alien: Covenant as Ricks, and in Marshall as Langston Hughes.
He began his career as a child actor in 1987 starring in commercials and films, including The Mighty Ducks in 1992 and Rob Reiner’s North in 1994
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What happened to Jussie Smollett, continued
However, the Chicago Police Department later said “the trajectory of the investigation” shifted after two men were released without charge.
The two men, Nigerian brothers Abimbola ‘Abel’ and Olabinjo ‘Ola’ Osundairo, were later released after new evidence emerged during the investigation.
Cops said they were no longer suspects in the case.
They then re-interviewed Smollett for a follow-up, where the actor’s lawyers said he felt “victimized” by reports that he may have been involved in the attack.
“Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying,” a statement from law firm Todd Pugh and Victor P Henderson said at the time.
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What happened to Jussie Smollett?
Jussie Smollett was taken to the hospital in Chicago at 2am on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, after two men allegedly put a noose around his neck.
The two unknown assailants, police said, began a “possible racially motivated” attack, yelling racial and gay slurs.
The attacker was said to have hit him in the face, poured an “unknown chemical substance” on him, and wrapped a rope around his neck before fleeing, police said.
Detectives previously released CCTV footage of the suspected attackers.
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Was Jussie Smollett arrested?
Chicago Police announced Smollett had been charged with disorderly conduct and filing a false police report at the beginning of March 2019.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter: “Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report.
“Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest.”
Guglielmi added: “Jussie Smollett is under arrest and in custody of detectives.”
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Would Smollett go to jail if convicted?
Experts have said that if Smollett is convicted he would likely be placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.
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The charges against Smollett
He’s facing six counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police, and if convicted, faces up to three years in jail.
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Smollett ’embarrassed’ about past drug use
One of the brothers who say they helped Smollett stage the attack, Abimbola Osundairo, branded Smollett his “brother”, adding the pair became extremely close as they had sleepovers, visited strip clubs, and smoked weed.
Smollett said: “We were in a club, you go to the bathroom, go to a stall, do a bump, do a bump, and then keep going in, and then we went to the bathhouse.”
Smollett admitted he was “embarrassed” by his drug use and hit out at those who “weaponized” sexuality.
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Smollett’s defense
When asked about Abimbola’s testimony that he was paid to attack the actor, Smollett replied: “Fully false, 100 percent false.”
Defense attorney Nenye Uche said the check was for “training” ahead of a music video, not as a payment, Fox News reports.
Meanwhile, Smollett said the check was for fitness and nutritional coaching.
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Prosecutors say Smollett planned attack
Special prosecutor Dan Webb told jurors that Smollett told the brothers to buy ski masks, red hats, and a rope.
Webb claimed: “He told them to use a rope to make it look like a hate crime.”
The brothers claim that Smollett paid them $3,500 to stage the “attack”.
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‘He wanted me to punch him,’ witness adds
Abimbola continued: “[Smollett] wanted me to punch him but he wanted me to pull the punch so I didn’t hurt him and then he wanted me to tussle him and throw him to the ground and give him a bruise.
“Then he wanted it to look like he was fighting back, so I supposed to give him a chance to fight back and then eventually throw him to the ground and my brother would tie the noose around his neck and pour bleach on him.”
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Witness says Smollett wanted him to ‘fake beat him up’
Nigerian brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo have claimed Smollett paid them to stage a hate attack.
Abimbola told the court that he participated in the hoax attack because he thought Smollett could advance his acting career, according to the Post.
He said: “He explained that he wanted to fake beat him up. I agreed to do it because most importantly, I felt indebted to him, to Jussie.
“He also got me a stand-in role on Empire and I also believed that he could help further my acting career.”
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Smollett said he ‘doesn’t trust police’
The Empire star claimed that he didn’t want to call the cops at the time of the “attack” because he “didn’t trust” the police, according to the New York Post.
And he said he was fearful about how the “attack” could’ve impacted his career.
The 39-year-old testified: “I want to play a boxer, I want to play a superhero. I want to blow stuff up.
“The moment I got beat I became a f****t who got his ass whooped.”
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Don Lemon allegedly ‘tipped off’ Smollett
During the trial, Smollett testified that CNN host Don Lemon warned that cops didn’t believe he was the victim of a racist homophobic attack.
Smollett said he received a text from Lemon, Fox News reported.
In February 2019, Lemon said the case was “personal” since he and Smollett had been “acquaintances” and had communicated with each other.
Lemon claimed that the actor “lost the fight in the court of public opinion.”
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When did Jussie Smollett’s trial begin?
Smollett’s trial began on November 29, 2021.
Judge James Linn said during an October hearing no cameras were allowed in court.
On the same day, attorneys for the actor made a final attempt to have the case dismissed but the judge denied the motion.
The trial wrapped up on Wednesday, December 8, with jury deliberations beginning at around 2.45pm CT.
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Jussie Smollet’s acting background
The star began his career in Hollywood as a child actor appearing in films such as The Mighty Ducks and Rob Reiner’s North.
However, Smollett is widely recognized for portraying musician Jamal Lyon in the Empire.
The role of Lyon was hailed as groundbreaking for its positive depiction of a Black gay man on television.
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What is Jussie Smollett’s net worth?
Despite his exit from the FOX hit series Empire, Smollett has amassed a wealthy net worth for himself.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Smollett has an estimated net worth of $500,000.
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Black Lives Matter supports Smollett
The activist group released a statement in support of Jussie Smollett on Wednesday.
The statement reads: “We can never believe police, especially the Chicago Police Department (CPD) over Jussie Smollett, a Black man who has been courageously present, visible, and vocal in the struggle for Black freedom.”
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Jussie Smollett and prosecutor clashed
In a tense moment on the stand during the trial, Smollett and prosecutor Dan Webb clashed over the use of the N-word.
Webb had read messages from Smollett, which prompted the star to ask him not to do it.
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What happened to Jussie Smollett, continued
However, the Chicago Police Department later said “the trajectory of the investigation” shifted after two men were released without charge.
The two men, Nigerian brothers Abimbola ‘Abel’ and Olabinjo ‘Ola’ Osundairo, were later released after new evidence emerged during the investigation.
Cops said they were no longer suspects in the case.
They then re-interviewed Smollett for a follow-up, where the actor’s lawyers said he felt “victimized” by reports that he may have been involved in the attack.
“Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying,” a statement from law firm Todd Pugh and Victor P Henderson said at the time.
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