Jussie Smollett may not be in and out of court for some time following his recent rehab update. The Empire actor, convicted last year by the court, is now in an outpatient program. Sources close to him refused to share why he is in a rehabilitation center but maintained that it’s for the best. However, according to Fox News, the insider revealed:
“He’s been waiting to go to rehabilitation and deal with life in a significant and thoughtful way.”
For now, it is unclear what the source means by dealing with life, but the onscreen star has a lot to unburden.
Jussie Smollett Was Convicted Two Years Ago
Jussie Smollett’s rehab news comes over a year after he was convicted. The court, including a jury, found the actor guilty. The charges labeled him were six altogether, all pointing to disorderly conduct.
In 2019, Smollett, a gay African-American actor, told the police that two dangerous men had attacked him. According to his report, the men were after him because of his race and sexual preference, and he did not see their faces because they wore masks.
At the time, this news circulated, and the investigation into the masked attackers soon turned into an investigation against Smollett. In the end, the authorities discovered that it was a hoax. Smollett not only misled the police with information but had planned the entire scheme.
After receiving the guilty verdict, he was to be locked up for 150 days, after which he would face felony probation for 30 months. As per restitution, Smollett was ordered to pay the City of Chicago $120,106 plus a $25,000 fine. So far, Smollett has only spent six days behind bars. He was granted bail pending his appeal.
Jussie Smollett’s Planned Appeal Before the Rehab News
Despite being found guilty, Smollett’s legal team argued that the court was partial and biased. They maintained that the actor’s rights were violated and there were homophobic remarks in court. At the same time, the defense did not get a fair hearing as cross-examination was rushed.
On top of that, he was not fully represented in the jury. Among the jurors, there was only one black man and a gay juror. Above all else, Smollett has stood his ground, claiming that he never orchestrated the attack. The actor says he cannot spit on his African-American race or misrepresent the LGBTQ community.
