Actor Jussie Smollett has voiced fresh criticisms against the Chicago Police Department and former mayor Rahm Emmanuel, labeling them “villains” for their part in his conviction over a fabricated hate crime.
In January 2019, Smollett, who is Black and gay, reported being attacked by two men in ski masks in what he described as a racist and homophobic incident. He was found guilty of orchestrating the hate crime in 2021, but his conviction was later overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court, which highlighted procedural issues and acknowledged that Smollett had reached a prior agreement to evade prosecution. Notably, the court did not pass judgment on his actual guilt.
In an interview, Smollett remarked, “The villains were the two who attacked me, the Chicago Police Department, and if I’m being very honest, the mayor.” He was referencing Emmanuel, who held the mayor’s office from 2011 to 2019.
According to Variety, Smollett accused “The Establishment of Chicago” of conspiring against him, raising doubts about whether Emmanuel obstructed justice in a police case involving the death of Laquan McDonald, a Black teenager, in 2014. He questioned, “Have they just learned about the missing minutes and tapes from the murder of Laquan McDonald? Did that help the mayor cover it up?”
Attempts by Fox News Digital to reach the CPD and Emmanuel for comments went unanswered promptly. Emmanuel chose not to respond to Variety’s inquiry.
Smollett maintained his stance on the original narrative of his attack, describing his alleged attack by two men who were Trump supporters wielding racial and homophobic slurs before putting a rope around his neck and dousing him with bleach. He refrained from criticizing the two brothers who were accused of assisting him in the hoax, asserting he was the sole person whose story had remained consistent.
“All I can say is God bless you and I hope it’s worth it,” he said, referring to his brother. “Everyone else’s stories have changed many times. Mine hasn’t. I have nothing to gain from this.”
A Netflix documentary titled “The Truth on Jussie Smollett?” is set to be released, which suggests he might be innocent. When asked by Variety why substantial evidence supporting his innocence hadn’t surfaced sooner, he replied, “To be honest with you, I really don’t know. I’m not an investigative reporter or a detective.”
Smollett shared how it felt when the CPD shifted from investigating hate crimes to arresting him, drawing parallels between his experience and that of Michael Jackson, who faced numerous accusations and police inquiries during his life and after.
In May, Smollett reached a settlement with the city of Chicago, which included a $50,000 donation to a charity as part of an agreement to withdraw a lawsuit against him.
