Disgraced formerEmpirestarJussie Smollettwho has been convicted of orchestrating a racist and homophobic attack on himself in 2019, is still refusing to admit his guilt. Last month, Smollett was sentenced to150 days in county jailand ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago, along with serving 30 months of probation after his release.
Smollett iscurrently out on bailand has revealed what he’s been up to in these three weeks: singing. Smollett recently debuted a new rap single titled, “Thank You God,” in which he thanks his supporters and also takes shots at his detractors. Smollett also revealed that he intends to donate all proceeds to the Rainbow Push Coalition, the Illinois Innocence Project, and Secure the Bag Safety. You can listen to the song below.
“It’s like they’re hell-bent on not solving the crime / Taking out the elements of race and trans and homophobia that’s straight taking lives / But turn around and act like I’m the one that killed the strides,” Smollett raps, doubling down on his version of events that transpired that night. Apparently, Smollett is doubling down on his story that the crime was perpetrated against him and not by him. Unfortunately for him, the jury, witnesses, and the police, all share a different opinion.
Jussie Smollett claimed to be a victim of an assault three years ago. In 2019, theEmpirestar said that as he was headed to get a sandwich at 2:00 am, two unidentified men whom he later described as Trump supporters confronted him, shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him, poured bleach on him, and placed a noose around his neck. The incident received significant coverage in the media at the time, but upon further investigation, the assailants were revealed to be two Nigerian brothers who’d worked onEmpireas extras. Smollett had paid them $3500 to attack him, police say.
“Some people chasing that clout / Just remember this … this ain’t that situation / You think I’m stupid enough to kill my reputation?” Smollett asks through the lyrics of the song, refuting allegations that the incident was just a big ploy to gain publicity. However, his behavior throughout the trial contradicts his words. Even after the sentencing, Smollett tried to make a dramatic speech about how he’s not suicidal and faced a quick rebuttal from Judge James Linn.
“You’ve turned your life upside down by your misconduct and shenanigans. You’ve destroyed your life as you knew it. You wanted to get the attention, and you were so invested in issues of social justice, and you knew this was a sore spot for so many people in this country… You were throwing a national pity party for yourself… You’ve turned yourself from riches to rags. Your very name has become an adverb for lying.”
Related:Lovecraft Country Star Jurnee Smollett Speaks Out on Brother Jussie’s Hate Crime Controversy
Jussie Smollett Has Received Support From Co-Stars And Friends
Although most people don’t believe Jussie Smollett’s story, his friends, family, andEmpireco-stars have stood by him through his ordeal. His sister, Jurnee Smollett, remains one of his biggest supporters.
“It’s been f***ing painful, one of the most painful things my family’s ever experienced – to love someone as much as we love my brother, and to watch someone who you love that much go through something like this, that is so public, has been devastating. I was already in a very dark space for a number of reasons, and I’ve tried not to let it make me pessimistic. But everyone who knows me knows that I love my brother and I believe my brother,” Jurnee toldTHRin 2020.
Several prominent people have also written letters to ask for leniency for Jussie, including Samuel L. Jackson, Alfre Woodard, the heads of the NAACP and Black Lives Matter, and Rev. Jesse Jackson. Some even argued that the public ridicule Jussie faced was punishment enough for his crimes.
