Jussie Smollett: US actor says ‘no hoax’ in court as he denies staging racist, homophobic attack on himself | News about Ant-Man & Art
US actor Jussie Smollett has denied staging a homophobic, racist attack on herself, standing before a witness at trial for the first time to tell the jury: “No What a hoax.”
The former Empire star is accused of lying to police in Chicago after being accused by two brothers of carrying out an attack. set everything up for publicity.
Abimbola and Olabingo Osundairo declare Smollett, who is black and gay, gave them a check for $3,500 (about £2,600) in January 2019, as well as $100 for supplies, and ordered them to they put a noose around his neck and shouted anti-gay slurs.
Smollett was accused of staging the attack himself. Photo: AP / Cheryl Cook Court Sketch
However, testifying for the first time on Monday, the 39-year-old told the court he had written checks for nutrition and training advice from Abimbola Osundairo.
“Never,” Smollett replied when asked by his defense if the money was payment for any kind of hoax. When asked if he would give money to his brothers for supplies, he replied: “Absolutely not.”
The actor testified in court that Abimbola Osundairo had provided him with details about a weight-loss herbal steroid that is illegal in the US. Osundairo told him he could buy him some “for a low price” while he was on an upcoming trip to Nigeria, Smollett said.
Earlier in the hearing, Osundairo testified that the actor had sent him a text message – which the jury saw last week – about “trivial” talking, and said in the interview chat he asked him about helping to stage the attack.
Defense attorneys argue that the Osundairo brothers accused Smollett of staging the hoax because they didn’t like him and then saw an opportunity to make money. They told the court that the actor was the “real victim” in the case.
After the brothers were questioned by police about the alleged assault, they asked Smollett $1m (£753,000) each to not testify against him at trial, lawyers say defense said.
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Police: Smollett ‘concocted story’ (2019)
What happened to Smollett in January 2019?
The actor said he was walking home when masked men approached him, made racist and homophobic remarks, beat him and put a noose around his neck before running away.
He reported the alleged assault to police in Chicago, who classified it as a hate crime and spent 3,000 hours working on the investigation, the court heard.
The actor told officers he was attacked by supporters of then-president Donald Trump – causing political divisions across the country.
Smollett’s legal team said police rushed to judge when they brought charges against the actor. They have also suggested that a third person may have been involved in the attack.
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Smollett case becomes ‘national shame’ (2019)
Allegations against Smollett
Prosecutors say the actor had previously received hate mail and was unhappy with Empire’s response, so staged the attack because of this.
Smollett is charged with six counts of disorderly conduct for making what prosecutors say is a fake police report of the alleged assault – one count each time he report – for three different officers.
He faces up to three years in prison, but experts say he will likely be placed on probation and ordered to do community service if found guilty.
The trial continues, with the actor set to resume giving evidence on Tuesday.
