Chicago Tribune

Judge: Defamation suit over ‘whiteface’ comments by Jussie Smollett’s attorney can proceed

Tina Glandian, attorney for actor Jussie Smollett, speaks at his sentencing hearing, March 10, 2022, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

CHICAGO — A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that comments made by Jussie Smollett’s attorney on national television three years ago that two Black brothers might have attacked the actor while in “whiteface” could be construed as defamation.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland allows the defamation lawsuit filed by Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo to continue against Tina Glandian, Smollett’s Los Angeles-based attorney who made the controversial comments in an interview on the “Today” show on March 28, 2019, a few days after the initial charges

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