BY BILL JUNEAU
I have been wondering and maybe others have been too as to the outcome of Jussie Smollett's appeal after being found guilty of inventing a story of a physical attack on him by Trump-lovers on a below zero morning on an Old Town street in Chicago back in 2019.
This fine, "French" thespian who was one of the stars in the TV series, "Empire," shook up Chicagoland and much of the country with his bizarre story of being attacked and whacked around and called a "black faggot" by white skinned Trump-lovers wearing red "MEGA" caps. He was interviewed many times, and before cameras tearfully recounted the incredible hate-crime. His story excited Hollywood and Black Lives Matter; and the Rev. Al Sharpton demanded "Justice for Jussie."
His story was checked and rechecked and eventually it was determined that Jussie Smollett had staged the "attack" as a way of bringing attention to him and his acting and singing talents, and on behalf of his black brothers who have been mistreated in society.
It took a couple of years, but Jussie's story was debunked as the attackers came forward and confessed to the fairy tale attack; and that Jussie paid them handsomely for their participation.
In March of 2022, following a trial before a jury, Smollett was found guilty of perjury and Judge James Linn sentenced him to to 30 months probation with the first 150 days in a jail cell. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a fine of $25,000 and restitution of $120,106 to the city of Chicago.
Jussie was handcuffed following sentencing and taken to the Cook County Jail to begin serving his time behind bars. His attorneys quickly appealed the conviction and sentence, and after spending six days in a cell, he was freed on an appellate bond pending review of the conviction by a higher Illinois court.
The Illinois Appellate Court affirmed the conviction last year and the case has been appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court. If the states highest court again affirms the conviction in Judge Linn's courtroom, Smollett, 41, will be made to pay his fines and serve his five months in the county jail where he can show off his singing voice to the jail guards.
It was an ugly hate crime and sympathy ran deep for the actor who is gay and biracial; the son of a white Jewish man and an African American mother. Many have believed that Jussie was of French ancestry, given the sound of his name, and misinformation on the street.
His blackness gave him ties to former President Obama, who reportedly made calls on his behalf. The Rev. Jesse Jackson was outraged, and so was the NAACP. "Justice for Jussie" was screamed throughout the world, and Jussie recounted on Good Morning America, with tears in his eyes, the horribleness of the homophobic assault.
Comedian Dave Chappelle featured Jussie in one of his stand-up appearances. He said that the truth of the matter was that the Black community did not and could not support the gay, black actor because they "knew that that (N Word) was clearly lying."
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