Empire star Jussie Smollett made headlines in January when he appeared to be a victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime. But support turned on him in February, when the Chicago Police Department accused him of paying people to attack him. Now, all criminal charges against the actor have been dropped. Click through the gallery for all the info.
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Photo credit: MEGA
Attorneys for the 36-year-old said in a statement on March 26, “Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him.”
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Photo credit: MEGA
The statement continued, “Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.”
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Photo credit: INSTARImages
“Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions,” it said. “This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.”
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Photo credit: INSTARImages
“Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career,” the statement concluded. Jussie was excluded from filming the end of the current season of Empire because of the drama.
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Photo credit: MEGA
Jussie was indicted in March on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
The Cook County State’s Attorney office said in a
statement, “After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.”
Attorneys for the 36-year-old said in a statement on March 26, “Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him.”
The statement continued, “Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.”
“Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions,” it said. “This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.”
Photo credit: INSTARImages
“Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career,” the statement concluded. Jussie was excluded from filming the end of the current season of Empire because of the drama.
Photo credit: INSTARImages
Jussie was indicted in March on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report.
The Cook County State’s Attorney office said in a
statement, “After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
