The former Empire actor took the stand in his trial on Monday and denied that he staged a fake hate crime attack, saying that he paid his attackers for legitimate business expenses and had a romantic relationship with one of them.
The actor was in court on March 26, 2019.
The images are from the same company.
According to Fox News, he testified that there was no hoax, as he faces six counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.
Prosecutors have argued that Smollet paid two men to help plan the attack, but he said that wasn't the case.
According to the Associated, he told the court that he had a romantic relationship with one of the men who attacked him, and that they had sex in a bathhouse.
The Osundairos were paid $3,500 for advice on nutrition and personal training.
According to The Daily Beast, last week, Abimbola denied having a sexual relationship with Smollett, and said that he and his brother were paid $3,500 to stage the attack on him.
[Smollett]
Chicago Sun Times.
What to watch for.
During the cross examination, he is expected to be questioned as to why he didn't help police investigate the attack on him. Last week, Detective Michael Theis testified that he found that the attack was staged by the man.
The key background.
In the middle of the night in January, 2019, a man who is black and openly gay was attacked by two men who yelled "MAGA country" at him and put a rope around his neck. The Osundairos were never charged with anything after they were arrested. Police believe that the attack was staged because he felt that Empire executives did not take it seriously enough, and that he received a threatening letter at the studio where he filmed the show. The actor is a real victim of a real crime according to his attorneys.
The man testified that he paid for nutrition advice.
Jussie wouldn't help the police during the investigation of his hate crime allegations.
