Jussie SmollettHe is back on the news amid a continuing scandal that has hampered his acting career.
On Friday, Nov. 19, the 39-year-old actor attended the New York City premiere of his movie B-Boy Blues, his film directorial debut. This marked the first red carpet event for the former Empire actor since January 2019, when he reported to authorities that he was the victim of an alleged racist, homophobic hate crime in Chicago. He was then indicted on charges of making false police reports. The matter will be brought up for trial later in the month.
At the time, he told authorities that two masked men threw a noose around his neck and poured chemicals on him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs, as well as a statement of support for then-President Donald Trump. A month later, amid growing skepticism about his account, police arrested the actor and accused him of paying two brothers $3,500 to stage the attack.