All Charges Have Been Dropped Against Actor Jussie Smollett

All charges has been dropped against Jussie Smollett, the Empire actor who was accused of faking his own hate crime.

Smollett was charged with 16 felony counts of lying to police about the alleged racial and homophobic attack. The actor was facing almost 48 years in prison after he was accused of paying brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo to attack him outside his apartment in Chicago in January.

Smollett’s lawyers announced the news in a statement today in which they called the 36-year-old a “vilified victim”.

“His record have been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint,” Smollett’s lawyers Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes said.

“Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29. 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,” they continued. “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 as a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect.”

According to TMZ, Jussie will surrender his $10,000 bond, but otherwise his entire case is dismissed. There was also no plea deal that led to the dismissal of charges.

Smollett thanked his supporters outside court after the court hearing in Chicago today.

He said: “I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one.

“I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I’ve been accused of.”

He added: “This has been an incredibly difficult time, honestly one of the worst of my entire life.”

Smollett vowed he would continue to “fight for the betterment of the lives of marginalised people everywhere”.

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