Jussie Smollett Has Outburst In Court After Being Sentenced To Jail For Reporting Fake Hate Crime

A judge sentenced Jussie Smollett to 30 months of probation, including five months in the Cook County Jail, and also ordered the actor to pay Chicago $120,106 in restitution and a $25,000 fine.

After 3-years of testimony, Smollett was convicted of staging an attack on Jan. 29, 2019 where he claimed two Donald Trump-lovng men put a noose around his neck, splashed him with bleach and hurled racist and homophobic slurs at the actor, who is black and gay.

Smollett did not speak in a closing statement on the advice of his lawyers.

When Judge James Linn issued Smollett’s sentence on Thursday, March 10th, the actor blew up in the court and screamed out “I’m innocent!”

“If I did this, then it means that I shoved my fist in the fears of black Americans in this country for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBTQ community,” Smollett shouted.

“I ask you, judge, not to send him to prison,” his grandmother, 92-year-old Molly Smollett, told the court. She later added, “If you do, send me along with him, OK?”

Smollett’s attorneys also read aloud letters from other supporters, including the president of the NAACP, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and actors LaTanya and Samuel L. Jackson that asked Linn to consider the case’s effect on Smollett’s life and career.

Several supporters spoke about worries that Smollett would be at risk in prison, specifically mentioning his race, sexual orientation and his family’s Jewish heritage.

Linn said he did consider those requests for mercy, along with Smollett’s prior work for and financial support of social justice organizations. But Linn also excoriated Smollett as a narcissist and pronounced himself astounded by his actions given the actor’s multiracial family background and ties to social justice work.

“The damage you’ve done to yourself is way beyond anything else than can happen to you from me,” Linn said. “You are now a permanently convicted felon.”

Smollett’s attorney Nenye Uche said he will ask the jail to keep Smollett in protective custody and plans to appeal both the verdict and the judge’s sentence.

Smollett left the court with his fist pumped in the air.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the first Black lesbian to be elected mayor of a major U.S. city who once allegedly told a group of city officials, “My dick is bigger than yours,” while berating city officials over a deal they made with a community group, welcomed the sentence.

Lightfoot slammed Jussie Smollett and said the former “Empire” actor’s sentence for faking a hate crime should send a message to others who’d make bogus claims.

“The criminal conviction of Jussie Smollett by a jury of his peers and today’s sentencing should send a clear message to everyone in the City of Chicago that false claims and allegations will not be tolerated,” Lightfoot said in a statement after Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail by a Chicago judge.

“The malicious and wholly fabricated claim made by Mr. Smollett resulted in over 1500 hours of police work that cost the City over $130,000 in police overtime,” she went on. “The City feels vindicated in today’s ruling that he is being held accountable and that we will appropriately receive restitution for his actions.”

WOW! For me, the judge reminding Smollett that he was now a PERMANANET convicted felon spoke volumes to me. I understand that punishment is due, but who actually deserves a felony for being an id*ot?

As to Smollett, he was already receiving GOOD ATTENTION for his role on Empire. There was no need to make up such a thing to get attention.

What are your thoughts?