After six long years of headlines, courtrooms, and controversy, Jussie Smollett is finally putting his past behind him. The former Empire star has reached a $50,000 settlement with the City of Chicago, closing the chapter on a legal battle that has trailed him since 2019.
And while his name will likely always stir up public debate, this move suggests he’s ready to move forward with no admission of guilt.
The settlement, which became public on Thursday, resolves the city’s lawsuit seeking repayment for the resources spent investigating what was widely viewed as a staged hate crime hoax.
Instead of continuing the legal back-and-forth, Smollett agreed to make a $50,000 donation to Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts, a Chicago-based nonprofit that supports underprivileged youth through the performing arts.
“Jussie chose to end this saga by donating to a charity that focuses on the performing arts and underprivileged kids in Chicago,” Torri Hamilton, Smollett’s attorney, told The Independent. “This lawsuit has been dragging on for six years. The decision to put it in his rearview mirror by supporting a cause already near and dear to his heart was not a difficult one.”
Smollett’s public and legal troubles began in January 2019, when he reported to Chicago police that he had been attacked in a hate crime by two men who used racial and homophobic slurs, poured bleach on him, and tied a noose around his neck. The story made international headlines—but quickly unraveled.
By February, Chicago PD accused Smollett of orchestrating the attack himself and paying two acquaintances, brothers of Nigerian descent, $3,500 to carry it out. Then-Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson accused the actor of exploiting racial tensions to gain publicity.
“This publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn’t earn and certainly didn’t deserve,” Johnson said at the time.
Smollett was initially hit with a felony charge for filing a false police report, which was dropped under controversial circumstances. But a special prosecutor reopened the case in 2020, leading to a 2021 conviction.
That conviction was later overturned on procedural grounds by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Throughout it all, Smollett maintained his innocence. He previously paid a $10,000 fine and completed community service in connection with the original charges. Now, with the additional $50,000 donation, the total amount he’s paid in connection with the case stands at $60,000.
In a statement, the Chicago Department of Law said the settlement allows all parties to move on.
“Smollett has faced additional accountability… where the evidence was publicly aired and a conviction secured. Accordingly, the City believes this settlement provides a fair, constructive, and conclusive resolution.”
For many, Smollett’s name became a lightning rod, symbolizing everything from the power of celebrity to the complexities of race, sexuality, and justice in America. Whether you believe he was wronged or reckless, there’s no denying that the story consumed the culture for far too long.
This latest move isn’t an admission of guilt. It’s a decision to put the past in the past.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
