A Complete Timeline Of The Investigation Of Jussie Smollett Staging His Own Hate Crime

Jussie Smollett arrives with his family at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on Dec. 8, 2021. | Source: Chicago Tribune / Getty

UPDATED: 4:00 p.m. ET, Nov. 21, 2024

Originally published: June 24, 2019

“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett‘s conviction for staging a hate crime hoax against himself has been overturned, bringing his self-induced yearslong legal saga to an unexpected end. Smollett was found guilty nearly three years ago after being indicted following claims he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago that never actually happened.

“The state’s highest court found that a special prosecutor should not have been allowed to intervene after the Cook County state’s attorney initially dropped charges against Smollett in exchange for him forfeiting his $10,000 bond and conducting community service,” the Associated Press reported.

Smollett was convicted in December of 2021 after a jury deliberated for more than nine hours following a trial that lasted nearly two weeks. Smollett was found guilty of five of six counts of disorderly conduct over accusations that he lied to police in Chicago about the alleged hate crime in January 2019.

Smollett was facing a maximum of 18 years in prison ahead of his verdict but instead was remanded to jail for 150 days and fined around $130,000.

Prosecutors argued that Smollett paid brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo to stage the attack. The two Nigerian-American brothers testified against Smollett during the trial and corroborated prosecutors’ allegations. But Smollett, who is openly gay, took the stand in his own defense, maintained his innocence and described a sexual relationship with Abimbola Osundairo, an aspiring actor.

There were many twists and turns in the investigation, causing speculation to rise.

On Jan. 29, 2019, while walking to a Subway, two men reportedly yelled racial and homophobic slurs at the actor after he exited a restaurant, investigators told The Hollywood Reporter. They allegedly punched and poured bleach on Smollett while one of the suspects put a rope around his neck. As they fled the scene, Smollett told police they said, “This is MAGA country.”

From the beginning, the Chicago Police Department appeared to drop the ball with their handling of the case in the media. First, a police spokesperson said there was no footage of the assailants. Then, hours later, there were two “persons of interest” on video. They also claimed the “Empire” actor “refused” to give the cops his phone. All of these inconsistent reports have prompted some to say Smollett fabricated the attack.

Smollett starred on Fox’s popular series “Empire” since 2015. He played Jamal, a successful singer in the musical Lyon family who is openly gay. He is also the winner of four NAACP Image Awards and has a long history in social justice and activism.

See the complete timeline below of the criminal investigation into Jussie Smollett’s staged hate crime hoax against himself.