Jussie Smollett testifies he gave check for diet and exercise plan, not for phony hate crime beating

CHICAGO — Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett testified in his own defense Monday that he paid $3,500 to a friend for a diet and exercise plan for him, not to arrange phony hate crime beating on himself.

The friend, Abimbola Osundario, testified last week that Smollett texted in late January 2019 that he needed help “on the low,” then gave the check to him and his brother with instructions to “fake” beat him up while yelling homophobic and racial slurs at him. Prosecutors have alleged Smollett staged the phony attack because the studio wasn’t taking his security concerns seriously.

Testifying in his own defense, however, Smollett told jurors in his criminal trial that the text referenced some herbal steroids he wanted Osudairo to pick up for him during an upcoming trip to Nigeria, and the check was simply for a workout plan to get him in shape for