Chicago prosecutors have charged actor Jussie Smollett with 16 felony counts related to fabricating a racist and homophobic attack allegation in 2019. The Empire star faces up to three years in prison, a $2.5 million fine, and 60 years of probation if convicted.
Smollett, 36, initially told police he was assaulted by two masked men in downtown Chicago on January 29, 2019, who hurled racial slurs and placed a noose around his neck. Authorities later alleged the incident was a staged hoax orchestrated by the actor to boost his career, citing financial dissatisfaction with his salary on the Fox series.
Chicago Police Department investigators claimed Smollett hired two black brothers to carry out the fabricated attack, though surveillance footage failed to capture the alleged beating due to camera positioning. A grand jury added 15 new charges to an initial count, bringing the total to 16 felony allegations.
20th Century Fox TV condemned the false claims as "disturbing" and removed Smollett's character from the final two episodes of Empire's fifth season. The network's statement noted the production team had endured "incredibly emotional" weeks following the actor's arrest.
Smollett's legal team has not publicly responded to the charges. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of the actor's credibility after his dramatic exit from the hit series amid the controversy.
