Former ‘Empire’ star, Jussie Smollett is reportedly working to get his life back on track after a tumultuous series of public events. According to latest reports, Smollett, 41, would be starting treatment at an outpatient rehab facility.
“Jussie has had an extremely difficult past few years. He has quietly been working very hard for some time now and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps,” a rep for the actor said in a statement.
The statement did not specify what he is seeking treatment for. However, during his highly publicised trial in connection to a Jan. 29, 2019 incident, it was alleged by the Osundairo brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, that they provided Smollett with a variety of illegal substances.
In March 2022, ‘The Skinny’ actor was sentenced to jail time and probation for a hate crime hoax that he staged with the Osundairos, and for subsequently filing a false police report in connection to the incident. He received 30 months of felony probation, including the first 150 days spent in jail, and ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution and a $25,000 fine. He was released after less than a week in jail pending an appeal of the conviction, which is ongoing in the Illinois courts.
Smollett claimed that on Jan. 29, 2019, while on his way home from a Subway sandwich shop, two men attacked him late at night. He claimed that the masked men yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him during the assault and also put a rope around his neck and doused him with bleach.
During the proceedings, Fox CEO Charlie Collier announced he would be nixing Smollett’s role of musical artist Jamal Lyon for Empire’s sixth and final season. Following the decision to no longer have him as a cast member on the series, Smollett’s Empire co-star Taraji P. Henson spoke in support of him on multiple occasions.
Throughout the trial, Smollett maintained his innocence.
