UPDATE FOX Pulls Jussie From Remainder of Filming Season
“The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us. Jussie has been an important member of our Empire family for the past five years and we care about him deeply. While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out.”
The statement continues, “We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season.”
After his early morning arrest, Jussie Smollett was at a bond hearing on February 21 where the judge granted $100,000 bond D-bond. The D-Bond designation means he only has to pay 10%. He will be under supervision and has to surrender his passport. The judge, who is black, and told Jussie Smollett, that while there is the presumption of innocence if this is true it is utterly despicable. He found the use of a noose the most reprehensible.
The Breakdown of The Criminal Timeline
Jussie Smollett’s Relationship With Abimbola and Olabinja Osundairo
Jussie Smollett has been friends with Abimbola Osundairo, AKA Abel, since 2017. Abel is 25 years old and, along with his brother Olabinjo, age 27, has confessed to participating in the fake hate crime. Abel has been employed by Empire to act as a stand in for Jussie Smollett’s love interest on the show. He also socialized and worked out with Abel over the years.
Numerous text messages show Jussie Smollett corresponded with the Osundairo brothers to coordinate the events of the hate crime hoax with their departure to Nigeria. Jussie Smollett also met with the brothers in person to discuss setting up the hate crime attack. While driving Abel home from an arranged meeting, he told Abel that he was displeased with how the network responded to receiving a hate crime letter directed towards him. This is when suggested that the hoax for the first time.
Jussie Smollett’s Plan For The Staged Attack
When they reached Abel’s home that he shares with his brother, Abel called Ola to come out to the vehicle. It was Jussie Smollett who gave specific instructions on the attack. The details included what racial/homophobic slurs to use. He said to rough him up but also give him opportunity of giving the appearance that he fought back. Jussie told them to pour gas on him, put a rope around his neck, and yell, “This is MAGA Country!” They have evidence to back this up from CPD pod video and data from Jussie Smollett’s cell phone. Jussie Smollett told them not to bring their cell phones and had them stage the fight in front of a video camera.
The hoax was supposed to happen the previous night but Jussie Smollett’s flight from NY was delayed for several hours. This was something he mentioned on social media. I wonder if he used those hours to reconsider what he was planning to do?
The Staged Attack
Jussie Smollett called the brothers as soon as his plane landed and changed the time to two am, just a half hour after he arrived home from the airport. At 1:45 Jussie Smollett went to Subway to buy his sandwich. This made him a few minutes late to the location of the staged fight. So the brothers waited on a bench for about four minutes. There is video of them waiting up the street for four minutes. Phone records. Uber records, taxi records and cellphone records substantiate the brothers’ account how the got to the scene.
Jussie’s Statements After The Attack
During his GMA interview on February 14th, Jussie Smollett positively identified the two men as his attacker. He also indicated that the attackers were white. A eye witness who is an NBC reporter had her window open at the time of the attack and said she heard nothing at the time of the attack. In other words, there was no political or homophobic threats that she could hear. She also heard things father down the street and said if that happened even in a staged fight, she should have heard it.
There is evidence of the brothers leaving within ten minutes via taxi. Two minutes after they arrived home, Smollett’s manager called to notify the police. During the police briefing today, when asked if the manager had any involvement the officer said he was not aware of any. When they arrived, Jussie Smollett told the police to turn off their body cams during his report. He told the police which camera they should look at for the video of the attack in the course of his relating of the events.
Jussie Smollett Purchased Molly On Several Occasions From Abel
Also, we found out one of the brothers was his DRUG DEALER. Since the spring of 2018, Jussie Smollett has requested and received the street drug Molly (AKA Ecstasy) from Abimbola Osundairo.
Multiple Contacts Occurred Between Jussie And The Brothers After The Staged Crime Scene
Jussie Smollett called the brothers shortly after the attack and the call lasted just five seconds, long enough for him to ask them to call him back. That is why he didn’t want to turn over his phone. They called him back and spoke for a few seconds before they left for Nigeria. Jussie and the brothers had another phone call from the brothers when they were on a layover in Istanbul, Turkey. That call lasted about 8 minutes.
Jussie and His Family’s Demeanor During Court
The judge ordered Jussie Smollett to have no contact with the brothers or any members of their family. In addition to the $3,500 check, Jussie Smollett gave the brothers $100 bill to purchase the noose and red hats (meant to simulate MAGA hats) and ski masks and other items needed for the hoax.
Jussie Smollett was stone-faced throughout and only spoke to confirm his name. Much of his family was in court and seated behind him. They all stood when his name was called and remained standing up during the entire proceeding in the row just behind him. Just like Jussie they showed no expression.
Jussie Smollett’s family and friends were mobbed by the press as they left. The showed no expression and made no comment.
Jussie Smollett was scheduled to film Empire today. His call time was pushed back to accommodate his bond hearing. It will be interesting to see if he still has a job since the Police Briefing earlier today indicated that he staged the hoax because he was dissatisfied with his salary on Empire which is said to be around $65,000 per episode.
I hope he faces federal charges for the letter also. Faking this stuff is terrible, I was horrified by his attack and now, now disgusted and pissed. It would be kind to say he needs help. I don’t think he needs help, I think he is just that ugly of a person. I doubt there is any mental illness involved, that would be an insult to those who are actually mentally ill.
Very well said.
I feel the same.
I wanted to blame youth, but he’s 37!
I’m so disgusted, don’t believe for a second he’s mentally ill, or hooked on drugs.
I think you’re right, he’s just an despicable person, inside and out.
Narcissism is my psych friend’s informal diagnosis for Jussie. She also suspects this he has carried out various duplicitous acts and felt he could get away with this one as well. My psychiatrist friend also suspects his family is aware of his tendencies/ personality but likely never considered he would do something this extreme.
Is he even gay or is that a lie as well? It may seem like a silly question, but, clearly he is capable of any level of deception.
Ohhh. Hes pulling the I have a drug problem card. Called it. Hello rehab.
No he pulled the $65k per episode isn’t good enough card. He isn’t asserting a defense anyway but according the CPD his motivation was dissatisfaction with his salary.
That too
Or hello Dr. Phil.
Exposure!!!
Disgusting.
Hey, I called it too, it is a script followed by disgraced entertainers…
Great minds think alike.
But this is not something the public will forgive. I don’t think he can recover from this level of deception. He’s alienated the black community, the gay community and the rap community (he called himself the gay Tupac–I don’t see the connection).
He went too far .
Absolutely!!
I don’t see how he’ll come back after this stunt/hoax.
He’s playing the drug card and angling for rehab while STILL crying to everyone that he didn’t do it. A month of all when this all happened I could have bought the drug excuse and the pleas for innocence. Now, not only is there hard proof, there is hard core facts on every single point.
The only unknown now is who sent the letter.He and the brothers could be charged with that.
Jussie is such trash. I cannot begin to fathom WTF was going through his mind. Has he not heard of negotiating? Playing hardball? Sleeping your way to the top? Anything would have been better than the shit show he’s currently starring in. A mess. I just don’t know. Was he sleeping with one of the brothers or both? Why would he trust them to be his accomplices? I have so many questions.
Apparently hes saying one of the bros. Sold him ecstacy. I’m not saying people dont have addiction issues with ecstasy. I dont buy that he does tho
Take responsibility. What a coward
Ecstasy is actually not super habit forming. You generally have to take more and more each day for it to make you high – typically double the dose. All that to say it is going to be unlikely that this is going to be used as any type of defense.
He didn’t say one of the bros sold him anything. He hasn’t said anything at all since the brothers confessed. It was Abel who said that Jussie had asked him to find him some Molly from time to time. I don’t think Adel is a real drug dealer, just a guy who knows where to get it and can go in Jussie’s place,
Wow!! Just wow, wow, wow. I am in disbelief. I have no words. Thanks for the detailed TEA, TT. I hope he gets the mental health treatment that he needs, if that’s the case…or, maybe a drug addiction is at the heart of this need for more money? I’m sad to think that there are people who fear attacks like this happening to them. Although there are extreme right wing “Maga-men” out there, I believe they are in the extreme minority. Just as the extreme left wingers are in a very small minority. It’s sad that we all thrive on news about these extreme fringe groups, instead of focusing on our commonalities. Oh well, I’m just ranting. Bevy Smith on Radio Andy was defending Jussie, and minimalizing what he did as recently as late last night. Almost as if it were justifiable, or minor in compared to the behavior of “the right,” etc…I just wish we could all call a spade a spade (not a racial remark, don’t attack me please) and say this whack job effed up and he doesn’t represent the mindset of folks, etc…and let’s talk about some non-hate based stuff.
I’m sorry, but here we go. What the fuck are you talking about, “getting the mental health treatment he needs..or drug addiction…” It was RECREATIONAL USE, and the little asshole is not ill, in any which way, other than he has an ego/entitlement/extremist problem. Tough to rehab any of those ailments. Punishment speaks to the issue, not rehab. Both are purposes of jail time by the way. I agree with you in the sense that I don’t think this is a left v right v race v sexual identification. It’s about a guy who wanted his stunt to mean more, and it shouldn’t. It should mean that people shouldn’t do stupid shit to bolster their agenda, and turn us into heartbroken Americans or dismantle humanity as a whole. Fuck this guy. And remove him from our psyche.
Narcissist, especially in the way he sticks to his story despite the evidence.
Co-sign.
I agree with everything you said. Sadly, celebrities have been able to bolster their popularity by publicly speaking against President Trump. Hating Trump is popular and therein lies part of the problem.
Just before this “attack,” he was posting rabid anti-Trump tweets, filled with profanity. I can’t help wonder if he was just laying the basis for his planned crime.
MAGA says what??
Mental health treatment? He’s a scum bag! There’s no treatment for that.
What a total scumbag.
I am so pissed at him!! There are smooth criminals and stupid criminals and clearly he’s a stupid criminal who wrote a check to the brothers, had them call him, etc. .At first i was let’s let it play out and give him benefit of the doubt. It was reported someone saw him after the attack looking unfazed…. benefit of the doubt, he’s in shock.. Another report said he still had the noose adding his neck… raised eyebrows real fast.. No self respecting black man would be walking around unfazed if someone tried to attack and put a noose around them. Refused to turn over cell… benefit of the doubt, they can pull that call with his manager rather than privacy invasion of contacts, pics, etc. Social media said his video post was to alert the beat down team…benefit of the doubt just another celeb feeding the fans. Police can’t find suspects, I’m pivoting. What did it for me was Robin Roberts softball interview he seemed disingenuous and just plain off. I hope he gets the harshest penalty they can give. He brought shame on his family, the show/network that gave him fortune and fame, not to mention costs racked up with police investigation. Disgusting. All because he wanted a bigger salary. As a black man this is despicable especially under this administration, where black and brown people are profiled and actually attacked for real, to fake a racist homophobic attack. Then to bring a noose into it and at Black History Month no less. Vile, just vile. Throw the book at him.
This story has finally gone international as a top story. Empire is not that well known internationally so it took his arrest to really get international media attention.
I don’t think he is ‘sick’, and I actually have a step-child who is a diagnosed sociopath with NPD so we deal with manipulation and fantastical stories every day.
She would have done a better job (more subtle, less details and would have cried and shaken through the ABC interview). I just think Jussie is manipulative and selfish. He was greedy, and would go to any length to get what he wants. He knew the pain and outrage details like the noose would cause and he capitalised on people’s pain for his personal gain.
I think he will do Dr Phil next. As much as everyone thinks of Dr Phil as the tough talker, he goes really easy on celebrities. He believed Farrah’s sex tape was an accident for crying out loud. Jussie will go on and cry and flash that duper’s delight smile (‘I go hard for 45! ?) and may get some redemption.
I’m going to shut up now. What I do want to know is – don’t you have really insane laws about the mail in the US? I am endlessly curious about the part of the letter in all this as it tells us so much of the motive. Don’t you go to prison for messing with the UPS?
Yes we do, the feds are looking into it and I’m pretty sure he will end up with some federal charges.
I agree that chalking this up to mental illness is absurd. Not every person who does bad things is mentally ill or crying out for help. Some are simply assholes who care about only themselves and don’t consider the feelings of others. If this is true, Jussie is nothing but an asshole.
He’s an asshole who wasn’t satisfied with his $65,000 an episode salary, and that truly baffles me. I don’t make $65,000 a year even. FFS, he just threw his life away because he wanted to be richer than he already was, which was someone whose fucking rich.
This all comes down to greed. If he did this, and I’m sure only he will ever really know exactly what happened, then he deserves to lose it all. I’m certainly glad he has a black judge. If he staged a modern day attempted lynching, no one and nothing can save him from the reckoning. He will have alienated his community. He has insulted everyone who has ever been a victim of or the family and friends of a victim of a hate crime. Truly sickening.
It makes my heart hurt thinking of black men and women being lynched – killed – for the color of their skin, and here Jussie is orchestrating a fake lynching for attention. I can’t. The devil sure does work hard.
ITA. Except, I only am glad he has a “black judge”, so people can’t claim, play, or bring up the race card bs. Look at the police commissioner. He was NOT happy. I don’t want bias in the courtroom, or on the street. It must be tough when you identify in your job with the issue that is exposed or compromised. Impressed with the legal side from the state thus far.
Doesn’t he have white lawyers?
What also made me pivot was watching a political commenter who said that the area of the attack was pro Democratic and puzzling why there would be people taunting MAGA but yet again I was benefit of the doubt. Come to find out the beat down brothers were paid by Jussie and bought the red hats when purchashing the rope they used as a noose.
Anyone notice this was a hate crime? Smearing red hat wearers (short hand for Trump supporters), no one
questions His hate for people who disagree with him, politically. It’s ok to smear and attack conservatives, I guess it’s only a “hate” crime if you holler at lefties.
Exactly. Apparently a person deserves to be hated and abused if they dared to vote for Trump. It’s not the first time this has happened and it won’t be the last. Hate is strong in some people. Sad.
Yeah but it doesn’t matter. All Trump supporters are hateful bigots who deserve all the crap they get. That’s the narrative and everyone will stand by it. Trump supporters are not kind people and hate anyone who isn’t rich and white. ?
Yes, a lot of people noticed that. Trump definitely noticed it and tweeted about it.
He should have been fired from Empire already. ABC wasted no time firing Roseanne for a tweet.
Can you believe he’s already back on the set of Empire WTF
I just read that he has been written off the last two episodes of the show.
Political affiliation is not a protected class. Sorry. You can’t be charged with a hate crime for hating Trump supporters. It’s the same legally as hating people with green hair. Your class needs to be one of the protected classes in the Civil Rights Act or its amendment to be a hate crime. Gay people being attacked for being gay wasn’t even a hate crime until the amendment.
It is a grey area. In 2009 Obama extended the hate groups to include race and religion motivated violence and added new federal protections against crimes based on gender, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
It appears to me that people (incorrectly) view MAGA as people who hate brown or gay people instead of a political group. If you don’t believe me take a look at the comments throughout the Jussie stories Tamara shared.
A crime against old rich white man because he is wearing a MAGA hat could be prosecuted as a hate crime depending on their view of what MAGA is. IMO a good lawyer could present a good case.
What should be the take-away from this is that people need to be judged individually by the “content of their character” and their individual actions. Anybody with even an ounce of self reflection knows it’s horrendous to pigeon-hole a race with any particular attributes. But, still, the painting of millions of Americans as racist sexist homophobes who only care about “rich, white” people is okay?!?! That’s every bit as bigoted and ignorant. There are policy differences between the parties and Trump’s interest is getting government moving toward some of those policies. We should all be looking at the policies and their effectiveness toward our goals, not just slurring half the population with bigoted remarks.
“We should all be looking at the policies and their effectiveness toward our goals, not just slurring half the population with bigoted remarks.”
If only you would hold the POTUS to the same standard you hold commenters on a website about TV shows. Then perhaps we could fix this mess.
Pretty sure it was considered a hate crime due to the verbal statements the attackers made (which were directed at his color and sexual preference). The hate crime was due to a noose and bleach. I don’t think the police could/would classify it a hate crime in relation to MAGA. However, just as I believe stupid people use MAGA to excuse bad behavior, Jussie had his attackers use it as a way to add fuel to the hate. Yes, it would be a stereotype but it would also add some modern context to the attack.
IMO
Are you two on crack? This is has been treated as a hate crime from the beginning. It;s just that the victim is now the perpetrator of the hate crime.
Yes, thanks for pointing this out. The “selective reasoning” of some of the commentators above is on of the main reasons we find ourselves in this trench. Please, don’t go throwing all your fancy Constitutional theories around, when you cant reason jack! We should be worried about the caliber of our jUdiciary and other decision makers goin g forward, after reading this crappola!
He targeted white men, heterosexuals and Trump MAGA supporters based on their race or sexual orientation.
How can it not be a hate crime?
You can’t be serious. Your love of Trump is disturbing. He wouldn’t spit on you if you were on fire. He’s like Jussie; a narcissist who believes his own lies. I had the biggest inauguration ever! It was the best! I’m the best and you’re not! You’re ugly! You bleed from wherever” and my personal favorite, making fun of a disabled reporter. These are the things you like in a president?
Thanks for breaking this down, TT. I’ve seen so many stories today but had a bad day and didn’t feel like following this story at all. It was nice to have a condensed version with all of the pertinent info. I can’t believe that we wrote the brothers a check!
Hear, Hear!!
TT thanks for the clarity. Sad and fucked.
I dont think Fox will continue their relationship with him. He’s going to find out the hard way that the people surrounding him and supporting him on set are not the same people who get to make the decisions.
If he pleads not guilty wasting more of Chicago’s time and money he should have the book thrown at him. I hope he ends up broke and in jail. No sympathy.
Tamara i just have a feeling you are beating yourself up over this grade A asshole. Please do not let him rethink who you think you are and who you think we think you are.
We think you are a truth teller. You keep it real. That is really hard for many to understand.
But there are many more of us who appreciate the way you see things.
Continue to be the person who is 98% correct in your perception and that 2% that errs on the side of commpationate (intended typo lol).
Thank you for all your updates and recaps. You have a brilliant mind. Don’t forget that.
ditto
I wish this would go away. I have no idea why it’s upset me so much. I think it’s manopause. ?
It will Mark.
Keep fighting, better days ahead!???
Tamara, I was busy today and didn’t get a chance to see anything. Thank you for the update — I love the way you organized it.
Are you surprised that Empire hasn’t written him out of the script?
The nerve of this motherfucker. In the words of Iyanla, Jussie is neck down dead. His eyes are saying so much. I appreciate that his friends and family are supporting him but it speaks a lot about your village when you pull fuckery like this…just saying Smollett family.
Fuck this guy!! I hope he goes to prison. This country has enough problems without him making shit up to insight more racial divide. POS m*fucker!
Guilty as charged here. You are all exactly right that this guy isn’t mentally ill and he doesn’t have a drug addiction- he’s an entitled POS! But, in my first comments, I fell prey to political correctness. I mean, who am I to question a gay black man’s motives for bringing this type of allegation? I said what I thought was the compassionate, empathetic, best response to these new findings. Even though I don’t believe what I said to be true. So, at what point does the switch flip?
Yes, thanks for pointing this out. The “selective reasoning” of some of the commentators above is on of the main reasons we find ourselves in this trench. Please, don’t go throwing all your fancy Constitutional theories around, when you cant reason jack! We should be worried about the caliber of our jUdiciary and other decision makers goin g forward, after reading this crappola!
Someone else posted the things that made them doubt Jussie’s story (polar vortex, bundled up and unable to see his face clearly, leaving the noose on, waiting so long to call, etc). While some believed it was a hoax I can’t go that far. I thought something happened and he embellished it.
But this is something no one has mentioned:
I saw the sound bite where Jussie made sure to point out that after he got punched he “punched his ass back.” It seemed so odd that he seemed to think that was so significant. There were two of them and no amount of punching on his part was going to change anything in “MAGA country”, in a polar vortex, as they yelled “hey Empire”. It was too Tarzan pound your chess and an odd thing to focus on.
Yesterday when I heard Jussie asked the Nigerian brothers to let him fight back I realize how little he grasps reality. He lives in fantasy land. I wonder what chapter two was going to be? I’d bet on Jussie wearing a cape.
Have you heard about the conservative activist attacked at UC – Burkeley on Tuesday? It was caught on camera. The attack was triggered by a sign that said “hate crime hoaxes hurt real victims”. I’m sure the MSM is covering that 24-7 like they covered Jussie’s “attack”, right?
It will be crickets about the UC Berkeley attack. I’ve seen the footage of that one, disgusting as well. I do not understand the violence, people have differing opinions. I can respect another opinion even if I do t share their opinion, what can’t people just stop being assholes. Each side says it’s the other that is worse, the tit for tat needs to stop.
Absolutely!!
I don’t see how he’ll come back after this stunt/hoax.
He’s still on set. He still has a job that pays him more then most average people will make. He wasn’t fired like Roseanne or written out of a series or movie like Kevin Spacey. He doesn’t have to “come back”. Not yet anyway. And if it comes to that he shouldn’t be able to after this. It’s disgusting he did and in a city, my city, that has so many real issues. I get this has hurt his fans but those of us that have watched our home be attacked over a lie when we have real issues at hand this really has had a negative impact. I love my Chicago. The diversity. The acceptance. What he did hurt those that welcomed and accepted him. It’s unforgivable and I’m heartbroken for us.
Woah Tamara, you are good! I had assumed that the approx 40 minute delay in calling the police was to stage the scene, feign embarrassment to his friend, etc. But, if the call was made “two minutes after the brothers returned home” it was to make sure the brothers were off the street and couldn’t be spotted by the CPD.
And he feels no shame.
I think the prosecution’s statement yesterday was an offering to Jussie’s team to plea bargain. He should take the offer today as long as he confesses publicly. Likewise, the feds do not want to proceed with terrorist mail threat when he has suffered this great public humiliation. The feds are hoping this case resolves quickly anyway so they do not have to present charges or evidence. Jussie would be able to go on lying that he did not send the letter. There is no way that the feds do not have the evidence needed to charge him.
It has been reported that a magazine was recovered from the Abel’s apartment but no one has reported the name of the magazine. When we are ready for some therapeutic levity, this magazine may present itself as a centerpiece.
Bwahahahahahah. Yes, those kind Feds are always so hesitant to prosecute people. WTF? It’s the feds that will nail him to the wall if he can be tied to the letter. They will come after whoever they can tie the letter to
Unfortunately, the FBI has become a political tool and Jussie’s case does not fit their narrative, when a preferable case of a white supremacist coast guard who wants to attack democrats is pending.
Why the FBI is becoming a political tool: failed to prosecute Clinton, had employees planning to prevent Trumps election and secured at least two officials in the government to implement the 25 amendment, etc.
I am just considering optics.
AMEN.
There are great people within the FBI but the top admin are very politically motivated. They have two sets of rules.
Thank you, TT, for always providing concise and truthful information in ever situation/story. I’m just done with Empire now and I’ve watched it from the beginning. I personally think he should be suspended until after the trial, given the way Roseanne lost her job/show within 24 hours over a bad tweet. I would be able to have a little more respect for Jussie if he would just own up to this publically because maybe there would be a slight chance for personal redemption sometime in the future if he would, but maybe pride, fear or hubris is getting in the way of that. I do believe at some point everyone should be given a chance at redemption, especially those that own their horrible judgment/mistakes and in this case, make legal amends based on what the court determines.. It is just very disappointing and sad because he was by far my favorite Empire character and in public, he genuinely seemed like a very nice young man. I’m just so disappointed on so many levels right now. The longer he continues with this lie,, the sadder this situation gets and the more disappointed I am.
What I am really curious about and don’t believe I’ve read is what led the Police to the two brothers. Surely they didn’t just identify them from the street videos. Did they stop in a store and purchase something? Did they catch an Uber? Why were they initially investigated as being the two individuals seen near the scene of the crime/hoax?
The police used camera’s — many private to follow the men leaving the scene who matched the description. The 2 brothers got in a taxi. Later took an UBER. To get an UBER they needed an account that gave the police a name. After UBER took them to the airport the police found out they had round trip tickets and waited for them to come back around Valentines Day. The airport police helped the Chicago PD detain the 2 brothers. At that time the police still viewed Jussie as a victim. They held them for 48 hours. It wasn’t until the 47th hour that the 2 brothers started telling police what really happened. From what I watched of Police Superintendent Johnson’s statement they believed the brothers were perpetrators until that time. They questioned a few things in Jussie’s account but continued to view him as a victim of a hate crime. After the 2 brothers gave their account the police collaborated their story with evidence.
The Chicago PD did a great job. I wish I could have watched all of their presser because it was interesting to hear how they handled the investigation.
I hope that answers your question. In 3 words: UBER and GREAT POLICE work
Yes that is very informative, thanks!
They should put him in the back of a squad car and take him on ride alongs for a week. Let him see what real police work and real victims look like.
It was the coldest night ever. Not 2 below. More like 20 to 35 below ZERO. There were only 2 guys on the street. I’m not kidding. Cameras did not have to work that hard to focus on these 2.
His part is being written out, per ABC news in L.A.
Actually, his character won’t be in the last two episodes this season and then they will see how it goes in court.
Okay. Is no one going to ask what was on the check? Did he write, “Interpretive Theater: MAGA Hate Crime” in the memo area of the check? Who writes a check for illegal activity? Has Jussie not seen an episode of Law and Order? What universe is this?
I don’t remember where I heard it, and I only heard it once, but it was said that Jussie wrote “For Training and Nutrition Regimen”
If that’s the case, then his defense attorneys could claim it makes sense, since that brother had been training him and helping him to prepare for an upcoming music video shoot.
The defense could also say Jussie wouldn’t have chosen such an obvious method of payment for something nefarious, so it had to be for training related services.
Of course, I’m not saying the prosecution won’t be able to effectively prove otherwise.
I haven’t seen anything official anywhere about anything being written on the check about the payment. I don’t think that information has been released.
What the police said is that Abel had trained him before and the check was for more than he usually paid and it was unspoken that the difference was for the fact attack.
The call when they were in Turkey did it for me for some reason……..
I don’t believe him anymore ?????????
What has the world come to????
Goodbye world am moving to the mountains away from you!!
What a timeline!!! I’m hooked on this case.
Also, this site has the best commenters. I enjoy the blog posts, but almost the comments even more. I mean that sincerely. It’s refreshing to read logical, thoughtful and well-written comments!! Love you people lol.
I hate the way he’s trying to come up with mitigating factors.
Really?
I can trust someone that had a history of drug or mental health issues.
But someone that schemed and lied like this? It’s just too much.
TMZ is now reporting that the $3500 check was for 5 weeks of training. According to a “source” Jussie wanted abs like one of the Nigerian brothers.
Do these people even attempt to think logically? We are suppose to believe that Jussie paid $700/week for training even though his “trainer” was in Nigeria for 2 of those weeks.
Also, do people normally pre-pay for training? I’ve had a trainer and paid weekly. I certainly wouldn’t pre-pay and then have the trainer 86 me for 2 weeks.
Please.
This is not new information. It’s distorted information,
The police said all along that Abel was given a check for $3,500 from Jussie. He had been training him for weeks and was paid before but this check was substantially larger. No one mentioned the extra money it was simply understood that it was for the fake attack.
TMZ just wants a new Jussie story to post on a Saturday.
If Jerry Springer was stupid enough to write a check to a prostitute when he was the Mayor Cincinnati. Jussie Smollett could’ve been stupid enough to write a check for the fake hate crime.
He was also to pay them 500 more I guess to make it an even 4000. I wonder what would have happened if these two guys weren’t believed and were charged with an assault, and convicted and sentenced to do some time, would he have spoke up and cleared them then or would he just have let them wait it out. Hmm I wonder.