Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
After reaching a settlement with the City of Chicago earlier this month, Jussie Smollett He agreed to be rejected by $ 50,000 a charity donation for a lawsuit against him.
In a long statement to Fox News Digital, Smollett said: “More than six years ago, after being reported to have jumped, city officials in Chicago intended to convince the public that I had intentionally set an attack on myself. This false narrative left a stain on my character who would not disappear soon. These officials wanted my money.
“It should be clear today. They did not receive either. The decision to resolve a civil litigation was not the hardest to make. After I repeatedly refused to pay the city, he gave me the opportunity to make a charity donation in exchange for rejecting the case.”
Jussie Smollett settled with Chicago after conviction was convicted of hate crimes
Jussie Smollett donated $ 50,000 as part of her settlement with the City of Chicago. (Netherlands/Bauer-Giffin/GC Pictures)
Smollett, who is black and gay, originally reported to the Chicago police that he was a victim a racist and homophobic attack Two men who wore ski masks in January 2019. He was convicted in 2021 for the installation of hate crimes, but his belief was canceled in November 2024.
In April 2019, the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Smollett in an attempt to compensate for the police costs that investigated the alleged attack. The actor said Fox News Digital “despite what happened there”, still has a place in his heart for the city.
“Therefore, giving a donation in favor of Chicago community It will be too often neglected by those who are always in power that I support, “he said.” I gave a donation of $ 50,000 to build a brighter future (BBF) Art Center, a local non -profit organization that does an incredible job that nurtures self -expression, creativity and research into the arts for Chicago youth. This organization was at my choice, and it comforts me that there will be at least one winner from this experience. “
Smollett was sentenced to five of the six charges of messy behavior before the charges were canceled. (Nuccio Dinuzzo)
Smollett said that although criminal charges were canceled, and a civil case was rejected: “I am aware that it will not change everyone’s thoughts about me or the attack I have experienced. However, despite hard and expensive attempts to punish, I am innocent and in the eyes of God and our eyes and our eyes the criminal system. “
Now, he said, he will focus on moving forward.
“I will continue to create my own art, struggling passionately for the causes of holding my dear and defending my integrity and surname with the truth,” said the former star of the “Empire”.
As you read? Click here for more news about fun
In addition to $ 50,000, which he donated as part of his settlement, Smollett said he also donated $ 10,000 to the Chicago Center in Chicago, which “provides resources to the healing communities from the violence of the Chicago Police Directorate.”
“Everyone who had to prove that they were actually violated, you know how difficult this is to be movement. I advocate with you and for you,” Smollett said of the donation.
Jussie Smollett sued the City of Chicago in April 2019. (Nuccio Dinuzzo)
In a statement for Chicago Sun-TimesCity attorneys said: “The city believes that this settlement provides fair, constructive and convincing resolution, allowing all parties to close this six -year chapter and move forward.”
Click here to sign up for a bulletin for fun
The criminal complaint against Smolletta was originally dismissed in March 2019, one month after his arrest. After the special prosecutor Kim Foxx requested a new investigation, the Empire star was convicted in December 2021. For five criminal offenses and later sentenced to 150 days in the county prison. Supreme Court in Illinois in November 2024. He decided that the decision of a special prosecutor was to try Smollett again on charges broke his rights.
Jussie Smollett is led from the courtroom after being convicted in the Leighton Criminal Court building in Chicago on March 10, 2022. The charges were canceled in November 2024. (Brian Cassella-Pool/Getty Images)
“Today we are solving the question of the responsibility of the state to pay tribute to the agreements he concludes with the defendants,” said Mark Geragos, Smollett’s lawyer, for Fox News Digital. “We believe that the second prosecution is a violation of the process in these circumstances and therefore reverse the conviction of the defendant.”
Click here to get the Fox News app
“This was not a prosecution based on the facts, but it was a vindictive persecution, and such a proceedings have no place in our criminal law system,” said another of Smollett’s lawyers, Nentye Uche, for Fox in a statement. “Ultimately, we are glad that today the rule of the law was a great winner. We are grateful to the Supreme Court of Illinois for the return of the order to Illinois’s judicial justice.”
Fox News Digital, Lauryn Overhultz, contributed to this report.
