Following a 2021 conviction for his involvement in a hate crime hoax and what has been described as a tumultuous few years, actor Jussie Smollett is reportedly starting therapy at a rehab facility.
“Jussie has had an especially tough previous few years,” stated Smollett’s consultant in a press release, per Folks journal. “He has quietly been working very onerous for a while now, and we’re happy with him for taking these obligatory steps.”
During the last 12 months, Smollett has maintained a low profile following the trial surrounding a hate crime incident he alleged had taken place on Jan. 29, 2019. In 2019, the actor, who held a distinguished function on the Fox community hit “Empire” on the time, claimed he was bodily and verbally assaulted by two masked males whereas en path to his Chicago condominium. Smollett, an out homosexual man, initially garnered sympathy as he alleged the boys attacked him with racist and homophobic slurs, threw bleach on him, and tied a rope round his neck.
“Jussie was the sufferer of a violent and unprovoked assault. We need to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime,” stated the Smollett household in a press release, per The New York Occasions. “Jussie has instructed the police every part from the very starting. His story has by no means modified, and we’re hopeful they may discover these males and convey them to justice.”
Nonetheless, as extra particulars got here to mild by way of the ensuing police investigation, skepticism grew amongst the general public. When police decided that Smollett was accustomed to the 2 suspected attackers, Abimbola “Bola” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo, they turned their consideration to the actor, suspecting him of submitting a false report. After being arrested by the Chicago Police Division, Smollett’s trial started in 2021, the place he confronted expenses of mendacity to the police. Although the actor maintained his innocence all through the trial, he was finally discovered responsible and sentenced to 150 days of jail time with an order to pay the town of Chicago almost $150,000.
Although the brand new assertion didn’t clarify in particulars why Smollett entered rehab, the Osundairo brothers reportedly instructed police that they offered the actor unlawful substances on a number of events.
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