Jussie Smollett Breaks Silence on 2019 Hate Crime Incident
Smollett, who went through outpatient rehab for undisclosed reasons in the fall of 2023, stated, “I’m extremely thankful to be alive and currently on a quest to discover genuine peace. My family saved me from being consumed by the world.”
His siblings, including actress Jurnee Smollett, have shown support for him during the legal proceedings and firmly believe in his innocence.
“I need to move ahead,” the actor declared. “It’s necessary.”
An appellate court rejected Smollett’s appeal in a 2-1 decision last December, and now the case rests with the Illinois Supreme Court, which heard arguments in Smollett’s appeal earlier this month.
His legal team contends that the actor was unlawfully charged with the same crime twice and that the trial court was influenced by improper aggravating factors in his sentencing, as reported by ABC Chicago, citing Capitol News Illinois.