{"id":128841,"date":"2024-11-22T15:45:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T08:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=128841"},"modified":"2024-11-22T15:45:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T08:45:45","slug":"how-we-got-here-and-whats-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=128841","title":{"rendered":"How we got here and what\u2019s next"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Nearly six years after actor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/12\/09\/us\/jussie-smollett-trial-thursday-jury-deliberations\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jussie Smollett;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Jussie Smollett<\/a> was accused of staging a hate-crime hoax in downtown Chicago and lying to police, an Illinois Supreme Court decision overturned his conviction on Thursday over prosecutorial issues, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/21\/entertainment\/jussie-smollett-conviction-overturned\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:the Associated Press;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">the Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The court ruled that after Cook County State\u2019s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped charges against the former \u201cEmpire\u201d actor, a special prosecutor should not have been allowed to intervene in the case, the AP reported this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett\u2019s case that unfolded in early 2019 saw a shift from widespread sympathy that soon turned into skepticism \u2013 and his character being written off the Fox television show \u2013 as emerging details led to questions regarding the actor\u2019s claims about what unfolded during the alleged attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">This week\u2019s Illinois Supreme Court ruling did not address Smollett\u2019s claims of innocence, which he has maintained since 2019, according to his legal team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Nenye Uche, Smollett\u2019s lead attorney, said the original case against the actor should never have gone to trial, and that it would not have done so if his client was just a \u201cregular Joe down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cThis was a vindictive persecution. This was no prosecution,\u201d Uche said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cI\u2019m sure Jussie would want an apology, but he\u2019s a realistic man, right? He knows he\u2019s not going to get it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Speaking to CNN\u2019s Laura Coates late Thursday, Foxx said that the Supreme Court\u2019s decision affirms \u201cwhat I learned in my first semester of my first year of law school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cYou cannot try someone for the same crime twice,\u201d she said, adding \u201cit\u2019s vindicating in that we should never have been here in the first place, because we find ourselves back where we were in March of 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb expressed disappointment in the court\u2019s decision to overturn the conviction and sentence, which included paying Chicago more than $120,000 in restitution for overtime expenses incurred while investigating the alleged hoax.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Webb said in a statement that Thursday\u2019s ruling did \u201cnot clear Jussie Smollett\u2019s name \u2013 he is not innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The City of Chicago is still able to pursue its pending civil lawsuit against Smollett in an attempt to recoup the more than $120,000, according to Webb.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">How we got here<\/h3>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The many twists and turns of the case began early on January 29, 2019, when Smollett, who is Black and identifies as gay, told police he was attacked near his Chicago apartment by two men shouting racial and homophobic slurs at him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett said the men placed a noose around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him, according to the Chicago Police Department at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The actor also claimed that one of the men he said attacked him exclaimed, \u201cThis is MAGA country,\u201d police said. Authorities initially investigated the incident as a hate crime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The actor at first received widespread support as advocacy groups, his colleagues, other celebrities and politicians \u2013 including then-President Donald Trump \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/02\/15\/entertainment\/jussie-smollett-attack-details\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:rallied behind him;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">rallied behind him<\/a> in the wake of the alleged hate-crime attack.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Brothers Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo arrive at court for a hearing for actor Jussie Smollett in Chicago on July 14, 2021. - Kamil Krzaczynski\/Reuters\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/lTb0IObOAVMOz9bNyNHg8Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cnn_articles_875\/437b07779882b4026c86f893f710572c\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Brothers Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo arrive at court for a hearing for actor Jussie Smollett in Chicago on July 14, 2021. &#8211; Kamil Krzaczynski\/Reuters<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">In a statement thanking fans in 2019, Smollett said he had \u201cbeen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/live-news\/jussie-smollett-trial-12-06-21#h_aac0abf47b7fb596b88f1277f2459ee4?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:100% factual;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">100% factual<\/a> and consistent on every level\u201d in response to doubts about his story\u2019s integrity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">But a February 2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/04\/01\/us\/jussie-smollett-osundairo-confession\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:confession from two brothers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">confession from two brothers<\/a> questioned in connection with the attack quickly led to the unraveling of Smollett\u2019s account and credibility.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, who were described <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/03\/12\/entertainment\/jussie-smollett-brothers-attorney-ac360\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:as persons of interest;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">as persons of interest<\/a> in the case that month, told Chicago authorities one hour before their 48-hour detention period was set to end that the attack was a hoax.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/11\/29\/us\/jussie-smollett-how-we-got-here\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:paid them $3,500;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">paid them $3,500<\/a> to carry out the staged attack in order to take \u201cadvantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,\u201d said then-Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cAs far as we can tell, the scratching and bruising that you saw on his face were most likely self-inflicted,\u201d Johnson said in late February 2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett was arrested and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment\/live-news\/jussie-smollett-arrested-chicago\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:faced a felony charge;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">faced a felony charge<\/a> of disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report and was released on bond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The Osundairo brothers, who later went on to testify against Smollett, told investigators Smollett had initially \u201cattempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language,\u201d according to Johnson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">A letter arrived at the Chicago set of \u201cEmpire\u201d a week before the alleged attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">It contained a white powder \u2013 later discovered to be aspirin \u2013 and a drawing of a \u201cstick figure hanging from a tree,\u201d police said. Smollett told Abimbola Osundairo he was disappointed in the \u201cEmpire\u201d team\u2019s reaction to the letter, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/02\/21\/entertainment\/jussie-smollett-thursday\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:paid the brothers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">paid the brothers<\/a> to stage the attack, Chicago authorities said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The Osundairo brothers were released without being charged, and Smollett denied any involvement in orchestrating a hoax.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Initial charges dropped before grand jury indictment<\/h3>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">In March 2019, a Cook County grand jury indicted Smollett on 16 counts of disorderly conduct. Following the alleged attack, the indictment said he gave separate statements with differing details to a Chicago police officer and a detective.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/live-news\/jussie-smollett-arraignment#h_1a638f6fed4a327e77778e18b034412d?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:pleaded not guilty;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">pleaded not guilty<\/a> to the charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Foxx removed herself from the case shortly before the charges were announced to address impartiality concerns \u201cbased upon familiarity with potential witnesses in this case,\u201d a spokeswoman from her office said at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Later that month, prosecutors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/03\/26\/entertainment\/jussie-smollett-charges-dropped\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:dropped all charges;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">dropped all charges<\/a> against Smollett. The Cook County State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office said the decision came after reviewing the case and after Smollett agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bond, CNN previously reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Chicago city officials condemned the move, and Johnson said he supported investigators\u2019 conclusions that the attack was a hoax.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">A Cook County circuit judge in June 2019 approved appointing a special prosecutor to handle an independent investigation of Smollett\u2019s case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Also that month, Chicago police released body camera footage from the night of the alleged attack showing the actor with rope tied in a noose around his neck. Police released the tape along with some text messages, more than 70 hours of video and more than 400 pages of search warrants <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/24\/entertainment\/jussie-smollett-body-camera-footage\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:to the media.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">to the media.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">In January 2020, a judge ordered Google to hand over to the special prosecutor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/01\/08\/us\/jussie-smollett-chicago-google-search-warrant\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:more than a year\u2019s worth;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">more than a year\u2019s worth<\/a> of personal electronic data from Smollett, including geolocation information, search history and photographs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">The following month, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/02\/11\/us\/jussie-smollett-indictment\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:a grand jury indicted;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">a grand jury indicted<\/a> Smollett for making false reports after Webb said his office had finished its investigative steps regarding the case and had decided to prosecute him further.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Jussie Smollett listens as his sentence is read at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 10, 2022, in Chicago. - Brian CassellaPool\/Chicago Tribune\/AP\/File\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/89.bGCUx0iZfuCFinhKsPg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cnn_articles_875\/29ec6fbf7333b6fb11cbee8129235005\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Jussie Smollett listens as his sentence is read at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 10, 2022, in Chicago. &#8211; Brian CassellaPool\/Chicago Tribune\/AP\/File<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett was charged with making four separate false reports to Chicago officers, according to a statement from Webb\u2019s office released around that time. Smollett <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/02\/24\/us\/jussie-smollett-february-2020-arraignment\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:pleaded not guilty;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">pleaded not guilty<\/a> through his attorney.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">He was found guilty in December 2021 on five of the six felony counts and sentenced in March 2022 to 30 months of felony probation that included 150 days in jail. He was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution and fined $25,000 for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/03\/10\/us\/jussie-smollett-sentencing-trial\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:making false police reports;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">making false police reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett spent less than a week in jail after an Illinois appeals court granted an emergency motion by his attorneys to delay his sentence and grant him bail until their appeal is resolved, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/03\/02\/us\/jussie-smollett-appeal-hate-crime-hoax-conviction\/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:CNN previously reported;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">CNN previously reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">What could be next for Smollett\u2019s career<\/h3>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett returned to the screen earlier this year in the film \u201cThe Lost Holliday,\u201d which he directed and starred in. The role marks his first on-screen appearance since his character in the television series \u201cEmpire\u201d was written off shortly after his 2019 arrest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett has remained committed to clearing his name in the nearly six years since his arrest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cI don\u2019t want to have a felony on my record for something that I didn\u2019t do,\u201d Smollett said in an interview last month with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etonline.com\/media\/videos\/jussie-smollett-gets-emotional-in-first-major-interview-since-hate-crime-hoax\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Entertainment Tonight\u2019s;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Tonight\u2019s<\/a> Nischelle Turner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re fighting for. I know that on the surface it probably seems like, \u2018Why doesn\u2019t he just serve the time, why doesn\u2019t he just let this go?\u2019 It would be easier if I had in fact done this to say that I did it. I wouldn\u2019t have spent almost $3 million of my own money. I wouldn\u2019t have had a trial,\u201d Smollett told ET.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2023\/10\/18\/jussie-smollett-rehab-treatment-facility\/?adid=social-tw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reportedly sought treatment;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">reportedly sought treatment<\/a> for substance abuse last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">Smollett said in his interview with ET that he feels he deserves a second chance professionally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cNo matter how much people are yelling in my face, saying, \u2018You\u2019re a liar, you\u2019re a liar,\u2019 no, I\u2019m not. No, I\u2019m not. I don\u2019t want them to believe that,\u201d Smollett said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">\u201cI haven\u2019t switched my story up. I haven\u2019t changed anything that I ever said,\u201d he told ET. \u201cI stand by every single thing that I\u2019ve ever said. Everyone else in the situation, every single person, has changed their story numerous times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\"><em>CNN\u2019s Chris Boyette, Bill Kirkos, Omar Jimenez, Steve Almasy, Ashley Killough and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0\">For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/register?source=external-feeds_iluminar&amp;cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo&amp;registration_email_campaign=https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:CNN.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">CNN.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/jussie-smollett-conviction-overturned-alleged-050147096.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly six years after actor Jussie Smollett was accused of staging a hate-crime hoax in downtown Chicago and lying to police, an Illinois Supreme Court decision overturned his conviction on &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=128841\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-128841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entertainment","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=128841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128841\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=128841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=128841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=128841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}