As a seasoned storyteller and observer of human lives, I find myself drawn to the captivating tale of Jussie Smollett – an artist whose journey through fame, controversy, and redemption is as intriguing as any script penned for the silver screen.
Jussie Smollett has had quite the interesting journey through the upside-down world of Hollywood. He started working as a child actor all the way back in 1991, as one of six acting Smollett siblings. He was only four when he started in the business, but soon had a resume fit for a king. As a kid, he was a cast member in “The Mighty Ducks” as Terry, Adam in “North,” and Jesse in “On Our Own.” The latter, a short-lived ABC sitcom, saw five of the six Smollett siblings appear onscreen as part of a flock of seven orphaned brothers and sisters bearing the surname Jerrico. He went on to attain an adult acting career and branch out into other disciplines within the entertainment field, eventually working as a director, writer, and producer.
After Jussie Smollett was accused of staging a hate crime against himself, everything fell apart. Initially, charges against him for lying to police and providing false statements were brought back and sent to trial, but a conviction eventually led to the verdict being overturned. Despite this, Smollett has persisted in claiming his innocence. Since his legal issues entered public discourse, his character on “Empire” was written off early, and he rose to national prominence only to become a focal point of controversy during the Black Lives Matter movement.
Jussie Smollett was gaining positive attention on Empire
Initially, Jussie Smollett gained prominence by portraying the character Jamal Lyon, who was positioned as the likely successor to the record label executive Lucious Lyon (played by Terrence Howard) and his wife, Cookie (portrayed by Taraji P. Henson), in the TV series “Empire” on Fox. This show became incredibly popular, spanning over six seasons, and during this time, Smollett’s character Jamal embarked on a journey to understand and define himself as both an artist and a son. While his siblings grappled with romantic entanglements and ambitions for Lucious’ position, Jamal focused on establishing his own identity and creating his unique music.
In their frequent disagreements, it’s Jamal’s openness about his sexuality that often stirs conflict with his father Lucious. As a proudly gay man in the family, Jamal stands firm against hiding his identity, which Lucious disapproves of vehemently. Despite being an accomplished and gifted musician, Jamal strives to break free from the labels of nepotism and charity cases often associated with him due to his family ties. His father laments this, dreaming for Jamal’s success as a touring superstar. Upon Cookie’s release from prison, she steps in as Jamal’s manager and encourages him to step into the spotlight, moving him away from Empire records and his father’s influence. Gradually, Jamal builds up the courage to publicly declare his sexuality and establish himself as an artist – a decision that creates tension within the family on both personal and professional levels.
As the years roll by in my gaming life, I find myself soaring higher in my career and love life, but not without its twists and turns. By Season 5, I’ve become more than just a rising star – I’m representing Cookie against my old man in our ongoing struggle over Empire Records. My brother, Hakeem, is the chosen one by our father, yet he’s as reckless with his love life as he is with business deals.
He started gaining a foothold in the sci-fi world
Jussie Smollett received a significant boost in his acting career with the title “Empire,” which led him to secure a supporting role in the movie “Alien: Covenant.” This film serves as a sequel to “Prometheus” within the franchise’s timeline, and it is set 11 years after the events of “Prometheus.” The story follows a group of colonists aboard the spaceship named Covenant, who are on their way to Origae-6 to establish a new home. However, an accident prematurely wakes them from stasis, and they pick up signs of human voices coming from a planet that appears more habitable than Origae-6. Fans of the “Alien” series will recognize that something is amiss, and before you can utter “boo,” xenomorphs start appearing everywhere. Smollett plays the role of Ricks, the ship’s navigator, who survives until the end of the film. However, his character along with his wife Upworth (played by Callie Hernandez) eventually meet tragic and grisly ends.
Smollett expressed great enthusiasm over the filming of “Alien: Covenant,” sharing with The Latin Times that he felt honored to have been included in the “Alien” series. He recalled, “It was a fantastic experience. It was intense but incredible. I remember being 8 years old, sneaking peeks at movies while my parents were away, and ‘Boyz n The Hood’ and ‘Alien’ were two of them. We adored those films, and to be a part of this franchise is truly unique.” Furthermore, he mentioned that his younger brother was particularly thrilled about his role in the production.
He broke into prestige films
As a gamer, I got to dive into the prestige movie world with “Alien: Covenant,” which also gave Jussie Smollett his first step. His short yet captivating role in “Marshall” was unforgettable; he portrayed poet and activist Langston Hughes, engaging in witty banter with Marshall (played by the late Chadwick Boseman) at a nightclub. The movie predominantly revolves around Marshall’s tenure as a defense attorney for Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), who faced charges of rape and attempted murder in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Smollett expressed great joy over being asked to appear in the film ‘Marshall’. He recalled, “One day, Reginald Hudlin [the director] approached me and said, ‘I’d like you to take a small role in my next movie.’ I couldn’t believe it! Needless to say, I was thrilled.” It’s amusing because this is one of the smallest roles he’s ever had, but it’s also one of the things that excites him the most,” he shared with The Latin Times.
He shared with Essence Magazine’s “Yes, Girl” Podcast that he aimed to reveal the bond between Marshall and Langston. “People weren’t aware that Thurgood Marshall and Langston Hughes were friends, but they truly were. At one point, even roommates. They were more like brothers.
He started a directing and writing career
During his time on “Empire”, Jussie Smollett also started a career in screenwriting and directing. He initially directed two episodes of “Empire” – “Fair Terms” from Season 4 and “What is Done” from Season 5. After he departed the show, he moved forward to direct two films: “B-Boy Blues”, released in 2021, and “The Lost Holiday”, scheduled for 2024. Notably, Smollett was also responsible for producing and writing the screenplays for both movies. The plot of “B-Boy Blues” revolves around a cultural conflict that arises when a journalist from Brooklyn (Timothy Richardson) finds himself drawn to a Harlem bike messenger (Thomas Mackie). Their relationship, set against the contrasting backdrops of uptown and downtown, questions whether love can endure.
Smollett expressed great enthusiasm about his directing journey when Variety asked him for insights on his directorial debut in “Empire.” He humorously mentioned, “I used to joke that I wanted to be the black, male equivalent of Barbra Streisand – she excels in everything she does.” This comment reflects his versatility as a musician, producer, writer, director, and actor. The multi-talented individual acknowledged learning the most from John Singleton, while expressing admiration for Alfred Hitchcock, Spike Lee, and George Cukor. He stated, “There are certain directors I admire greatly – I appreciate their unique styles, and I found inspiration in them to achieve something similar.
He branched out into producing
As I dabbled in directing, writing, acting, and even singing, my passion for storytelling grew, leading me to step up as a producer. My first venture into executive production was the 2015 film “Sacred Heart.” Alongside this, I co-produced a Food Network series, “Smollett Eats,” where my family and I cooked meals together. The show spotlights our entire extended Smollett clan, with my actress sister Jurnee included.
Jussie Smollett stated to Alt-Africa that he doesn’t limit himself to a single creative role such as producer, director, or writer. Instead, he prefers to think of himself simply as a creator. He went on to say that the move into music was a natural progression for him, given his work with musical storylines on “Empire.” In 2018, he added a hyphen to his name and released an album titled “Sum of My Music.” Additionally, he had several hit singles from the “Empire” soundtrack, such as “Nothing to Lose,” “You’re So Beautiful,” and “Good Enough.
Jussie Smollett was convicted of faking a hate crime against himself
Back in January 28, 2019, my world took a sudden turn when I claimed to be a victim of a hate crime in Chicago, Illinois. I shared the story of being attacked by two men who hurled racial and homophobic slurs at me, poured chemicals on me, struck me multiple times, and tied a rope around my neck while shouting Trump campaign slogans. After receiving medical treatment, I was discharged from the hospital, but things took a dramatic turn when I was arrested for disorderly conduct and filing a false police report on February 21st. The authorities also accused me of fabricating threatening letters to myself as a means to secure a raise on “Empire.” They interrogated the brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who admitted that I paid them over $3,000 to stage the assault.
As a devoted admirer, let me recount the events surrounding Jussie Smollett’s legal saga. Originally facing 16 felony charges in March of 2019, the accusations against him were dismissed following a plea bargain. He consented to pay $10,000 and perform community service, with the promise that his record would be expunged. However, a new special prosecutor reinstated charges in February 2020, accusing Smollett of fabricating claims to the police about an incident. The authorities maintained that the physical evidence contradicted his account.
He was written off Empire due to the charges
Due to legal issues involving Jussie Smollett, the TV show “Empire” found itself in a complicated situation just before wrapping up Season 5. Upon hearing about Smollett’s arrest, the producers decided to write his character, Jamal, out of the last two episodes by suggesting that he was stranded on his honeymoon in the Seychelles due to bad weather.
In June 2019, Lee Daniels made a statement via his social media platform (formerly Twitter) that Smollett wouldn’t be returning for the next season, contradicting an earlier Variety report about the actor’s comeback. The show adapted by having Jamal and his husband relocate to Europe at the beginning of Season 6. This transition was subtly addressed in Episode 1 with a conversation between Cookie and Becky Williams (Gabourey Sidibe), one of Jamal’s closest friends, where they discuss a sleepover. Becky mentions how she and Jamal used to dress up for these gatherings and Cookie remarks, “I guess that’s why he ran off to London.” When Becky expresses her missing him, Cookie empathizes but instead of dwelling on her emotions, asks Becky for more details about the sleepover party.
Jamal Lyons’ storyline has concluded, marking the end of his appearance on “Empire”. The show carried on for one more season without him, and Smollett chose not to return for Season 6. With his most significant achievement behind him, Smollett started shaping a new persona beyond his beloved character. Positive developments then transpired in both his personal and professional realms.
The ruling was eventually overturned
On November 21, 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned Jussie Smollett’s conviction. The court made this decision based on arguments from Smollett’s attorney that his prior agreement with the city led to a second round of felony charges brought by the special prosecutor. This, they claimed, infringed upon Smollett’s right to fair treatment (due process) and violated constitutional protections against being tried for the same offense more than once (double jeopardy). The ruling stated that charging Smollett twice was deemed unfair and a violation of his due process rights.
Dan K. Webb, who serves as the special prosecutor in the ongoing investigation against Smollett, stated that the decision made by the Illinois Supreme Court does not impact Smollett’s innocence or guilt. Essentially, the court did not find any flaw in the substantial evidence presented at trial that indicated Smollett staged a hoax hate crime and reported it to the Chicago Police Department as a genuine one, nor did they question the jury’s unanimous verdict declaring him guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct. Interestingly, Smollett did not contest the strength of the evidence against him in his appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. Regardless of whether he is content with the verdict or feels disheartened by the outcome, it appears that Smollett has fulfilled all his restitution obligations towards the state of Illinois, allowing him to resume his acting career.
He’s re-entering the Hollywood scene with The Lost Holiday
The fortunate timing of the actor’s exoneration couldn’t be more opportune, as he now has a new movie to publicize. Titled “The Lost Holiday,” the film was independently created by Jussie Smollett, who not only wrote and directed but also produced it at his own expense. Additionally, Smollett composed the soundtrack featuring fresh original tunes from himself. The story revolves around Cassandra Marshall (Vivica A. Fox), who is heartbroken to discover her son, Damian Holiday (Jabari Redd), has passed away. She travels to attend his funeral, unaware that he was married to Jason (Smollett), a man she’s never met before.
Jussie Smollett acknowledged that his movie was influenced by his own personal experiences, including the day his father passed away coinciding with the premiere of “Empire”. Emotions of happiness and sadness intertwined in his life at that time made it challenging for him to cope. He explained to alt-Africa, “I really tried to channel those feelings into something. Somehow this story emerged.” The struggle between Jason and Cassandra was drawn from the disagreement that arose between his mother and one of his father’s family members, while Cassandra is portrayed as a general representation of his mom in the film. Initially shown in AMC theaters last September, the producers hoped for wider distribution due to positive word of mouth. It remains to be seen if Smollett can stage a remarkable comeback or if he’ll continue grappling with the reputation stemming from his legal battles.
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2024-11-24 19:30