Jussie Smollett Was Denied Justice Because Chicago Police ‘Mishandled’ the Case, Actor’s Family Says
“There’s no verifiable evidence” against Jussie Smollett. That’s the claim the actor’s family made at a press briefing as they insisted Chicago police “mishandled” the case and Smollett was denied justice.
During the hour-long virtual gathering on Friday, the “Empire” star’s siblings — Jazz Smollett, Jocqui Smollett and Joel Smollett stated their case. The Smollett family and defense attorney Heather Widell met with a select group of Los Angeles-based Black journalists and insisted Jussie never lied about being assaulted.
“Our main focus right now is making sure that the media understands that the narrative that Jussie is lying, that he committed perjury in any way, or that his story fell apart is just patently not correct,” said attorney Widell. “We have independent witnesses who completely and unequivocally corroborate Jesse’s story of what he saw that night.”
However, Widell didn’t elaborate on the identities of those witnesses.
During the hour-long virtual gathering on Friday, the “Empire” star’s siblings — Jazz Smollett, Jocqui Smollett and Joel Smollett stated their case. The Smollett family and defense attorney Heather Widell met with a select group of Los Angeles-based Black journalists and insisted Jussie never lied about being assaulted.
“Our main focus right now is making sure that the media understands that the narrative that Jussie is lying, that he committed perjury in any way, or that his story fell apart is just patently not correct,” said attorney Widell. “We have independent witnesses who completely and unequivocally corroborate Jesse’s story of what he saw that night.”
However, Widell didn’t elaborate on the identities of those witnesses.
- 3/19/2022
- by Anita Bennett
- The Wrap
TV One revealed its programming slate of new and returning series and specials at its upfront presentation on Thursday. The presentation, led by TV One and Cleo TV President Michelle Rice and other executives, revealed that Cleo Speaks, Jazz Smollett and Jake Smollett’s Living by Design, Just Eats with Chef JJ and Jernard Wells’ New Soul Kitchen will return this year.
Thursday’s presentation also unveiled a number of new unscripted titles centering on the Black community and topics relevant to TV One’s viewers, ranging from activism to motherhood and relationships. Minding Your Body And Soul, Sins of the City, Culture Kitchen and A Taste of The Diaspora are among the new series set to debut on TV One this year. TV One also shared that its Urban One Honors will return this May to celebrate trailblazing Black women for their professional achievements and contributions to their community and more.
Thursday’s presentation also unveiled a number of new unscripted titles centering on the Black community and topics relevant to TV One’s viewers, ranging from activism to motherhood and relationships. Minding Your Body And Soul, Sins of the City, Culture Kitchen and A Taste of The Diaspora are among the new series set to debut on TV One this year. TV One also shared that its Urban One Honors will return this May to celebrate trailblazing Black women for their professional achievements and contributions to their community and more.
- 4/15/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Jazz Smollett, who was at TCA this morning with her brother Jake to promote their Cleo TV reality series Living by Design, stood by the statement issued Tuesday on behalf of her brother, Empire star Jussie Smollett, and told Deadline that “he is healing” after an attack last month in Chicago.
Yesterday, Deadline reported that the Empire star hit back at inferences he had changed his story with the ongoing Chicago police investigation regarding the January 29 assault, in which two men allegedly screamed derogatory slurs at him, beat him, and poured an unknown chemical substance over him. The assailants were said to have also put a rope around Smollett’s neck before leaving the scene.
Jussie Smollett plays openly gay character Jamal Lyon on Empire which shoots in Chicago. Chicago Pd via police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi referred to the matter as an “assault and battery case.”
“Chicago Pd has repeatedly...
Yesterday, Deadline reported that the Empire star hit back at inferences he had changed his story with the ongoing Chicago police investigation regarding the January 29 assault, in which two men allegedly screamed derogatory slurs at him, beat him, and poured an unknown chemical substance over him. The assailants were said to have also put a rope around Smollett’s neck before leaving the scene.
Jussie Smollett plays openly gay character Jamal Lyon on Empire which shoots in Chicago. Chicago Pd via police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi referred to the matter as an “assault and battery case.”
“Chicago Pd has repeatedly...
- 2/13/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Jussie Smollett's family is speaking out after the actor was the victim of a hate crime in Chicago on Jan. 29. The family's first statement since the attack, shared with Us Weekly on Jan. 31, read, "In the early hours of Tuesday morning, our beloved son and brother, Jussie, was the victim of a violence and unprovoked attack. We want to be clear - this was a racial and homophobic hate crime." It continued, "We are so grateful that God saw him through this cowardly attack alive. Jussie is a warrior whose light cannot be dimmed."
The family's statement continued, "These are inhumane acts of domestic terrorism and they should be treated as such. They will continue to occur until we hold each other accountable. Make no mistake, words matter. Hateful words lead to hateful actions. Radical love is the only solution, but passivity will be our downfall. We, as a family,...
The family's statement continued, "These are inhumane acts of domestic terrorism and they should be treated as such. They will continue to occur until we hold each other accountable. Make no mistake, words matter. Hateful words lead to hateful actions. Radical love is the only solution, but passivity will be our downfall. We, as a family,...
- 2/1/2019
- by Kelsey Garcia
- Popsugar.com
Ready for some family fun and food? Food Network announces the Smollett Eats TV show will premiere Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 12:30pm Et/Pt. The first season of Smollett Eats consists of six half-hour episodes.The Smollet Eats TV show stars: Jake Smollett, Jocqui Smollett, Jojo Smollett, Jussie Smollett, Jazz Smollett, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell. Empire's Jussie recently worked with Friday Night Lights alum Jurnee on Wgn America's Underground TV series.Read More…...
- 7/22/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Food Network has ordered the Smollett Eats TV show from Triage Entertainment. The cooking and entertaining show features Jake Smollett, Jocqui Smollett, Jojo Smollett, Empire's Jussie Smollett, Jazz Smollett, and Friday Night Lights' Jurnee Smollett-Bell.Jussie and Jurnee recently worked together in the first season of the Underground TV series on Wgn America. The series, which tells the stories of the heroes of the Underground Railroad, was renewed for a second season, back in April.Read More…...
- 7/8/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
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