Jussie Smollett’s conviction for orchestrating and reporting a phony hate crime punctuates actor’s sudden downfall
CHICAGO — Jussie Smollett’s star was rising fast three years ago, with his hit show “Empire” leading the ratings and providing him groundbreaking opportunities to portray a gay, Black entertainer in a country still struggling with issues of race and sexuality.
All that began crashing down in January 2019, when Smollett reported he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack on a frigid night in downtown Chicago, only to later be charged with making the whole thing up.
On Thursday, a Cook County jury completed Smollett’s downfall, convicting the actor on five out of six felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about the purported attack, which prosecutors said was carried out by two brothers Smollett hired to do the job.
The jury’s guilty verdict, which was announced in Judge James Linn’s courtroom after more than nine hours of deliberation, marked a dramatic end to a story that has captivated Chicago and made worldwide headlines. Prosecutors said Smollett orchestrated the attack to boost himself with his show, which has since been canceled, and force its leaders to take his security concerns more seriously.
Before the verdict was read, Smollett stood in court and
