Actor Jussie Smollett boldly strut into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on Tuesday to appear at a hearing to determine whether cameras will be allowed into court during his proceedings on Thursday.
Smollett, 36, was accompanied a small entourage that consisted of his siblings and his legal team, including celebrity attorney Mark Geragos. According to TMZ, his attendance wasn’t required at the hearing today.
“He is choosing to be here. Not required,” tweeted CBS Chicago.
The Empire star wore a long grey overcoat with dark aviator shades. He did not make a statement to reporters.
Smollett told police he was jumped by two Trump supporters who shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him outside his Chicago condo on Jan. 29.
He was arrested on Feb. 20 and charged with one felony count of lying to police when investigators determined he paid 2 brothers to help him stage the fake hate attack.
The disgraced former Empire actor now faces 16 felony charges and a maximum of 64 years in prison for filing a false police report and lying to officers. He was charged with one felony for every lie he told.
According to TMZ, offers for acting and club bookings have dried up for the singer/actor after the indictments. “We’re told Smollett’s getting zero calls for new work, and is being treated like a pariah.”
Smollett still maintains his innocence, despite the preponderance of evidence against him.
The irony of Jussie not wanting camera attention ?
Oh, so first you crave the attention and now he don’t want the attention. He’s comical!
2019 is shaping up to be quite the year isn’t it …. lol
I STILL can’t believe this …………
Nah I wanna see those brothers on the stand
Apparently whilst we were busy scrutinizing jussie, Illinois made it a felony to film the police (according to Gary Dourdan) is this true Ms Sandra?
This show is going to be waay better than Empire!
Due diligence after the fact. I’m not moved…
They’ve always had strict laws about recording people without their permission. So this sounds like an amendment.
GOOD ATTENTION, YES; BAD ATTENTION, NOT-SO-MUCH
Gary Dourdan(whom I worked with in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) father wasn’t to happy with me at a Image Awards attendance & cussed me out ..
Oh Jussie wants ALL the attention. That’s why this narcissist showed up to court although it wasn’t required. He will get the flashing lights by any means necessary.
Oh, so NOOOOWWWW you don’t want cameras involved.
Naw Mr. Ghey “Tupac” Mr. GMA, YOU don’t want cameras…comical
But isn’t this the extended tv time he so desired?
I only commented so I can ask why the Frank-ski comments are disabled…!
Keep the cameras rolling. You went on GMA now let CLTV capture the moment. And he better check for cameras like R! She?
Why whadid u do?
I really really hope that the judge WILL approve for cameras to be in the courtroom during this fool’s trial!… This will be the biggest role of his life and we ALL wanna see!
64 years is a bit much!
64 years? And all of Trump’s cronies are basically getting pats on the wrist for fraud, lies and everything else under the sun? You’ve gotta be shitting me.
I accidentally knocked him upside his head.
I want to see too! I need to have my snacks ready!
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Actually they didn’t. You just can’t do it in secret. You have to tell the police you are recording.
He seems like the BIGGEST jackass
SMH…BUSSIE REALLY did not think this farce all the way out, did he? I bet he didn’t think it would get this serious.
?????? yooooo I can’t breathe
I hope cameras are not allowed. I just know l would get second hand embarrassment just like watching r kelly. Jussie would give meme makers and youtube comedians more material no doubt.
Those folks are white
Wayment….64 years?I done read stories about folks chopping up folks who DIDN’Tget that much time! Bet he won’t do THAT again!!
The actor?
OT: What happen in the Frank Ski post to have the comments turned off?? What did I miss?? Dang miss a morning miss a lot!!
Sandra said yawl don’t know how to act.
Still waiting on the lgtbqhfycbnklpzhx community 2 call him out. They havent said a word. 64 years wow. He should have been on that dump train ?. He would have gotten less time.
I thought it was just me. I had no idea that Frank Ski was Doo Doo Brown. That song was my isht!
Can I roll with you??? You be meeting some celebs…and I’m trying to get my fan club on…lol…naw but for real….you have met some of my buck list folks…..one particular….WILL SMITH….I just want a moment with him….lol
You know darn well everyone was going to have grandpa jokes! ?
lmao at all them letters tho…..
They good friends. She didnt want nobody saying he divorced his 1st wife after 20 years n 3 boys n how quick he moved 2 start another family.
My fingers r sore from typing all them letters ??
Meeting and working with Will is one of the HIGHLIGHTS of my entire life.
Jussie walked up in that MF with his head held high like he wish a MF WOULD… get em, Juss. Hit em with the shoulders! LMAO!
awwww Jussie….now dont start acting camera shy…..you was ALL FOR IT when this first dropped…so KTSE and lets get this trial popping!!!
I am sooo here for the televised event of ” When keeping it real, goes wrong”….live!!!!! When is this happening so I can request the FULL DAY off, call my cousin for some sticky ikcy……..re-up my wine supply and fill up my Yeti cup…….close all curtains…..and fully enjoy this self-roasting……
Wasn’t that childish? LOL
That MF ain’t going to jail. He’s going to get probation and have to pay restitution and we’ll be back to argaren about something new by the time the “trial” WON’T start.
If he’s a first time offender with no criminal record, he wont do anything near 64 years. I doubt he’d get 2-3 years frankly.
That might sound more like it.
Ha!!! I figured…
I think you might be right. He must feel like an absolute moron.
White Priviledge…
He didn’t have a problem with that camera stuck up in his face the other week telling those crazy lies.
You might be right cuz he sho struttin up in there like he ALREADY kno ain’t nothin gonna happen to him… sunglasses and all!
He’s gonna make a plea deal.
I’d like to see a CAT scan of him and R Kelly’s brain. I think it would reveal similar brain patterns. In addition to performing background checks and std reports when women meet a man, we may need to have them provide us a CAT scan in addition. We can use Smollett and Kellz’s results as the blueprint, and save ourselves the headache and time wasted. O’l lyin, sick in the head azz ninjas.
Well…I don’t feel sorry for him one bit! He created this whole mess by himself! Some money is better then no money…instead of hating on stars like Terrance Howard and Taraji Hensen..put the work in…you don’t get more money because you’re gay and pretty. And let’s hope you’ve been working on your addiction ??
Lol
Sixty-four years is if he gets the max on each of the indictments and if the judge ruled he had to serve them consecutively. There is no chance he does anything close to that, but its smart as a prosecutor to make each charge separate so that if say only 3 of 12 statements can be proven false then the jury can throw out the charges for the statements that couldnt’ be proven, but return a guilty verdict for ones that were. The judge would most likely have the sentences served concurrently given the nature of the case.
But to the comment below, Jussie isn’t a first time offender. There was the time he lied to police and gave them his brothers name. Obviously not quite as sever, but shows a pattern of lying to cops.
They need to have cameras all up and thru that bitch. Request DENIED!!! YO as wanted to be on camera. You on candid camera now bish!! SMILE
Ain’t he though? LOL
Gays have special rights in America
Oh yeah I’d be fuming about that too ??
Oh gotcha!
They probably will give him some community service also.
Absolutely ridiculous
“There was the time he lied to police and gave them his brothers name.” <—–I remember that…smh….oh well for him
In the manafort case, Mueller was seeking life. The judge is the one that sets the sentence, not the prosecutor.
Thanks lovely! I see what you did there and I approve!! :-))
Hells yeah! I looked at the picture and though it!!
You know more than me!!
can you tell him I said “Hiiiiiiiii” ( insert Ms. Pearly from Friday tongue role)….lmao
I stopped reading at, “He is choosing to be here” How about choosing not to be there in the FIRST place dumb azz!
He wanted the cameras tho.
????
Jussie unfortunately will pay the cost for all the fake outrage, you can’t say that about us gay thumping idiots who think that their sexual preference makes them impervious to criticism, jokes, opinion and individual preference. Hate it had to be him though, seems like a cool dude
Even hardened criminals get their privacy on their day in court. Personally I moved on…….put him in jail or don’t…the world don’t stop either way…….
So he’s cool w Cameras on buildings he intended to catch the fake attack but no cameras for the fallout? I think there will be cameras. Lots and lots of cameras lol.
Smh…
Welp they are allowed. He’s moded
Not gon happen.
This is embarassing. He so deep in doo-doo, he has to plead not guilty and put up a vigorous defense. he’s going to owe Atty Geragos(?) a ton of money.
Glad they will video-audio this hearing. We need to hear his voice and see his eyes.
Not me! I moved on but I’ll circle back so fast to watch this mess!
I bet…Dude Empire crew has supposedly said they’re finally over him and are disgusted
I’m saying lolol
This is probably the most attention that Jussie has gotten in his entire life, having so many siblings.
Sorry Smollett but I need to see you fry on video
HAWHAW
Jussie acting white talking bout he dont want any cameras in the courtroom. They saying ninja u gonna learn 2day. Now u have gotten besides yourself n trying 2 tell us what 2 do.
I know, but it must be nice to share the complexion connection with the judge because what they did definitely warranted more time than they got.
??? oh no…reality punch in the eye ??
I haven’t heard “moded” in forever…back in the lexicon it goes!!
Whew Chiiiiiiillllleee!!!!!
I bet he WISHES he could turn back the hands of time…HindSIGHT is 20/20, I know He wishes that he NEVER did any of this…poor tink tink
The things we choose to worry about……………………………I’d be more focused on them 16 federal indictments
Now u trying 2get me blocked.
But he got cameras getting that boi pussy bust down
Confused. Sandra You say Jussie went to court to ask that cameras not be allowed. You also say his attorney was there and you quote TMZ. Meanwhile TMZ says Mark Gerragos was NOT there and Gerragos wants cameras in the courtroom. So who is right because your story is a 180 from TMZ’s.
Just heard on ABC news that Jussie asked for no cameras but the judge shot that down. Cameras will be allowed.
Sowwie!! ??
You get your “news” from gossip website TMZ. ?
From The Blast:
I agree. Everywhere else is reporting that Jussie Smollett’s legal team is in favor of media presence.
He doesn’t want anyone to witness his bad acting
This story is beyond annoying now
The “boldly strut” made me laugh
“He is choosing to be here. Not required,” tweeted CBS Chicago.
He don’t have schit else to! He just making me not like him even more! Strutting his arse like he some HIGH PROFILE VICTIM! I feel like slapping in the back of his head and yelling him to sittdown some dayum where!
Right.. more like ‘arrogantly switching! ‘
If nothing else…that man is proud! He’s a liar but he’s a proud liar!
“Smollett still maintains his innocence, despite the preponderance of evidence against him.”
Lucky for him, it takes more than a ‘preponderance of evidence’ to convict him of a crime. And yes, he strutted that runway like he aint done nothing wrong. *smh*
He strolled his ass to GMA. Now, let the media stroll their asses in the courtroom.
He really wanna pull a Kim K on the world.
I guess he was getting bored being home bound. All of this could’ve been avoided. Dumbass.
My same thought?
Something tells me this dude is going to commit suicide. But his life will be straight shit afterwards.
Or jokes about him and his chirruns looking like Benzino’s Neckless cousins ???????????
Thanks for my newest favorite meme?
Ok Jussie but I don’t know how much that’s going to help because everybody knows already.
Jussie is VERY confident. He has something up his sleeve..
Social media whore syndrome
really? whats a comparable case you think justifies the longer sentence? He was guilty of tax fraud, failure to register a foreign bank account and falsifying bank records to obtain loans.
Not that these aren’t serious crimes, but I read last month where 2 guys in chicago committed armed robbery and home invasion/theft. The black guy got no jail time, just probation. The white guy got like 8 years, but he had priors.
Im still lost as to why he did this in the first place. Makes absolutely no sense.
LOL!
Isn’t this what he wanted, the fame and recognition? He pulled this stunt for wanting more publicity and his name in the headlines. Now that he has it he’s asking for privacy. The irony.
But he welcomed us to witness that bad acting on GMA.
I bet Felicity Huffaman and all those celebs who just got caught bribing universities to get their kids into ivy league schools wont have to deal with the media circus as intensely as this case and will get off easy cause their white.
the judge should allow popcorn and soda sales in the courtroom for good measure.
I’m so disappointed in this dude. Our ancestors lost their lives for this fool to be a moron. I don’t care what happens to him. They can put him in jail and throw away the key.
That is not very Tupac of him. He should want the cameras there to show how they are trying to frame him…Nevermind https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cfe1ccf77f997b0e1bfd2297d1be7ccc1d12e069c2472edb51a852853da51560.gif
Maybe not. This is the 2nd time he has filed a false police report and lied to the police. The last time he got a slap on the wrist. He has a habit or a pattern of lying to the police and filing false report.
This guy has all the characteristics of a psychopath. Lemme watch my daily dse f unsolved mysteries.
He must have something to hide then! Journalists may still be allowed in and under the freedom of information act they can find out what is said, I could be wrong though, but that’s to my knowledge. If this heffa wanted more money then he should of let his agent take care of it, that’s what he pays them for! He’s just plain stupid and ruined his career now!
The way he walked up in there ????
I just want to know how Empire is still on ?????
Because this is their best script yet …….LoL
So either Sandra has it wrong or TMZ does because they’re reporting that Jussie and his Lawyer WANT cameras in the courtroom and that Jussie is going because he wants to be involved in the entire process.
I thought he way the gay tupac !!!
Jussie walked in that court room with his best Burlington Factory coat on lol.
DEAD
Lee should write this mess into the script baby. I can see Cookie beating his behind. .???
No it doesn’t. They will convict him because the 2 brothers admitted to being part of it and there is no one else on any security cameras but them. They have the 2 brothers on security camera in the store buying the rope, red hat masks and gloves. the hate mail was produced in the 2 brothers apartment with one of their magazine’s.
His legal team will bleed him dry, he wont get any talk show and book offers. he will cry victim to the end and his die hard fans who refer to whites in general as deplorable, white trash, devil honky, trailer trash, pecker wood Trump supporters will set up a go fund me page for him so he can buy ass lube for jail..
He did it to marginalize whites, demonize Trump supporters as violent queer hating racists and to be a victim and a hero while bashing republicans leading up to 2020 elections
The Black guy got no time? That sounds like a longshot for sure.
He’s so disrespectful how you walking into court like that ?
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Disrespectful like your racist ass?
How am I racist ? By saying the truth ? Girl you can’t grow human hair !
Disrespectful like the smell your mommas pussy emits ?????
Ok.. so is Jamal moving to London to be with his husband. And the new brother gonna enter..
Wendyv said.. walked in like George Jefferson…????
You’re a mentally ill racist
That’s your upper lip ??? I know you don’t like to bathe it’s called soap use it
But aren’t I black ? Which is it sweetie ? ????? you’re a sad simpleton
William Haley plead guilty to armed robbery with a firearm. Event occurred in late 2017. Just went before judge this year where he received probation. http://www.cwbchicago.com/2019/02/duo-pleads-guilty-to-wrigleyville-home.html
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Doubt it
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