Jussie Smollett Takes The Stand In Own Defense; Says Attack Was 'No Hoax'

Jussie Smollett took the stand in his own defense on Monday (December 6) during his trial over accusations that he staged the 2019 hate attack on him in Chicago, Ill.

The former Empire star opened up about the attack and stated that he did not orchestrate it.

Click inside to read Jussie’s full testimony…

Jussie is currently facing six counts of felony disorderly conduct for making what prosecutors say was a false police report about the alleged attack. The felony, a class 4, carries a prison sentence of up to three years.

Taking the stand, Jussie retold what happened on that night, after brothers Abimbola and Olabingo Osundairo, testified for the prosecution.

In their testimony, they said that Jussie had gave them $100 for supplies and instructed them to place a noose around his neck and yell homophobic slurs. In addition, they also claimed Jussie gave them a $3,500 check in compensation.

According to Jussie, he told jurors he had just returned from a trip and was walking home after buying a sandwich when someone yelled to him about the TV show then shouted a racist, homophobic remark. He said he was angry and turned around to confront the person, who he said towered over him.

He added that the man walked quickly toward him and described the altercation between them.

“I would like to think I landed a punch. But I don’t know if it landed,” he shared, saying that the fight went on for about 30 seconds and also mentions seeing another person kicking him on his side.

Jussie also said that he assumed the person who attacked him was white because he used a racial slur and shouted it was “MAGA country,” an reference to then-President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan.

After the attack, Jussie picked up the phone he had been talking on and told the person he “got jumped.” He noticed he had a noose around his neck as he got up, grabbed his sandwich and went up to his apartment. While he removed the noose, but another friend who was at his apartment called police and told him to put the noose back on so officers could see it.

“I am a Black man in America. I do not trust the police,” he said after stating that he wasn’t a fan of calling police in the first place. “I am also a well known figure at that time and I am an openly gay man.”

As for the check that the brothers talked about, Jussie claimed that it was for nutrition and training advice from Abimbola, who worked on Empire, while he was going to be out of town.

Asked by his defense attorney if he gave Abimbola payment for some kind of hoax, Jussie replied: “Never.”

The attorney asked again if he planned a hoax: “No, there was no hoax.”

Prosecutors say Jussie staged the attack because he was unhappy with the Empire studio’s response to hate mail he received. The letter including a drawing of a stick figure hanging by a noose, with a gun pointed at it, and the word “MAGA.”

Brett Mahoney, who produced Empire in Chicago, testified earlier Monday that law enforcement was contacted and the letter turned over to authorities. He said Jussie agreed to added on-set security, but didn’t want anyone following him home because it was too intrusive.

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Just recently, Jussie stepped out for his first event in years.