One of the most polarizing scandals in recent pop culture history is back in the spotlight, and this time, it’s asking viewers to decide what they believe. Netflix is diving into the tangled and controversial saga of Jussie Smollett with a brand new feature-length documentary titled The Truth About Jussie Smollett?.
Set to premiere on August 22, the 90-minute film revisits the Empire actor’s alleged hate crime in Chicago, the media storm that followed, and the long legal battle that only recently came to a close.
But what sets this documentary apart? Smollett himself is featured in a rare on-camera interview.
Produced by Raw, the team behind The Tinder Swindler and Don’t F**k with Cats, The Truth About Jussie Smollett? will mix interviews with police officers, attorneys, journalists, and cultural commentators to reexamine a case that was never as black-and-white as it seemed.
According to Netflix’s official logline, the film is “a shocking true story of an allegedly fake story that some now say might just be a true story.” It teases a narrative twist that invites audiences to unpack their own assumptions about race, celebrity, media, and truth in the digital age.
This film isn’t just about headlines; it’s about what happens when a Black man becomes the face of a story that spirals into political theatre, online firestorms, and legal gray areas. Smollett’s case became more than a police investigation; it became a cultural referendum on race, credibility, and justice in America.
Back in January 2019, Smollett alleged he was the victim of a racially and homophobically motivated attack by two masked men in downtown Chicago. But the story quickly unraveled. He was accused of orchestrating the incident himself and later charged with filing a false police report.
While initial charges were dropped following community service, a special prosecutor reopened the case, leading to a high-profile conviction on five felony counts in 2021. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, of which he served six.
Fast forward to late 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court dismissed the conviction due to concerns over due process. In May 2024, Smollett reached a financial settlement with authorities and pledged to donate $60,000 to charity.
Director Gagan Rehill, who previously helmed Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, says the documentary is about more than just Smollett; it’s a reflection of our current cultural climate. “I wanted this film to speak to the particular moment of rapid cultural change when this takes place in 2019,” Rehill explained to Deadline. “When, as a society, we were becoming more combative, more polarized, more divergent over our shared reality—when we began to lack a common singular truth.”
The Truth About Jussie Smollett? drops on Netflix August 22.
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