Jussie Smollett to pay $50,000 to charity following police investigation
Actor Jussie Smollett has agreed to pay $50,000 to a local charity in Chicago after the city filed a lawsuit accusing him of lying about a hate crime.
Smollett, who is Black and gay, claimed in 2019 that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. However, he was later charged with fabricating the incident to the police before charges were later dropped against the actor, who has always maintained his innocence.
The city of Chicago had initially demanded that Smollett pay $130,000 to cover the costs of the investigation. Then, on May 22nd, they came to a new agreement that will see him donate $50,000 to Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts, which supports young people in Chicago from underprivileged backgrounds.
A spokesperson for the law department said: “The City believes this settlement provides a fair, constructive, and conclusive resolution, allowing all the parties to close this six-year-old chapter and move forward”.
Following the alleged attack, Smollett said that two men had yelled racial slurs, poured a “chemical substance” on him, and put a noose around his neck. He claimed the incident took place near his apartment in Chicago.
However, soon after, Smollett was charged with lying to the police. The authorities also claimed that he sent a racist letter to himself, and paid $3,500 to two brothers to stage the attack.
Smollett denied the charge, but was found guilty in 2021 before the decision was overturned in 2024.
Since the alleged attack in 2019, Smollett’s career in movies and television has significantly slowed down.
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