Jussie Smollett’s Redemption Arc: Where Is He Now After the Controversy?

Background: Rise to Fame and the 2019 Incident

Born on June 21, 1982, in Santa Rosa, California, Jussie Smollett began his career as a child actor and appeared in films such as The Mighty Ducks (1992) and North (1994). In 2015, he found success playing Jamal Lyon, a gay black musician, in the film Empire, receiving praise for his phenomenal acting.

Smallest performance impressed audiences and he also ventured into music, signing with Columbia Records and releasing his debut album, “Some of My Music“, in 2018. His activism as an openly gay black man further solidified his public image as a voice for marginalized communities.

On January 29, 2019, Smollett reported to Chicago police that he was attacked by two masked men who yelled racial and homophobic slurs, poured a chemical substance (suspected to be bleach) on him, and put a noose around his neck. He claimed the attackers yelled, “This is MAGA country,” referencing then-President Donald Trump’s slogan. The incident initially sparked widespread sympathy, with celebrities such as Viola Davis, Kamala Harris, and Cory Booker condemning the apparent hate crime.

Legal Battles and Public Fallout

The fallout was swift and severe. On February 20, 2019, Smollett was charged with filing a false police report, a class 4 felony. In March 2019, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, led by Kim Foxx, dismissed all 16 felony charges against Smollett in exchange for him forfeiting his $10,000 bond and completing 16 hours of community service. The decision sparked outrage, with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others accusing the prosecution of bias. The city sued Smollett for $130,000 to recoup the costs of the investigation, after which Smollett filed a countersuit alleging malicious prosecution.

In February 2020, a special prosecutor, Dan Webb, re-indicted Smollett on six counts of disorderly conduct for making a false police report. In December 2021, a jury convicted him on five counts, sentencing him to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probation, $120,106 in restitution, and a $25,000 fine. Smollett only spent six days in jail before being released pending an appeal. Throughout, he claimed his innocence and denied plotting the attack. In December 2023, an Illinois appellate court upheld the conviction in a 2–1 decision, but on November 21, 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned it and ruled that retrying Smollett after his initial plea agreement violated his Fifth Amendment rights against double jeopardy. The court stressed the state’s obligation to honor the agreements, though special prosecutor Webb said the ruling did not confirm Smollett innocence.

The controversy polarized public opinion. Supporters saw Smollett as a victim of systemic prejudice, while critics saw his actions as deceptive and an exploitation of real issues of racism and homophobia. The political climate of the Trump presidency and the media frenzy fueled by the Black Lives Matter movement made the case a subject of cultural controversy.

Smollett’s Career Post-Controversy

The scandal derailed Smollett career. His character was removed from the final episodes of Empire, and Fox confirmed that he would not return for the sixth season. Public trust waned, and Smollett made fewer headlines, and focused on his mental health, including a five-month outpatient program in 2023. However, he has since taken steps to rebuild his career. In 2021, he made his directorial debut with B-Boy Blues, a drama based on the Black LGBTQ+ community. In 2024, he directed, co-wrote, and starred in the film The Lost Holiday starring Vivica A. Fox, which he promoted at a screening in New York in September 2024.

Smollett also returned to television and joined the fourth season of “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Tests” on Fox, which is scheduled to premiere in September 2025. The reality show, which features celebrities undergoing military-style training, is his first major television appearance since “Empire.” In addition, he released a new album, “Break Out,” in September 2025, which marks his return to music. These projects reflect Smollett determination to move forward, although his efforts have received mixed reviews, with some praising his resilience and others skeptical.

The Netflix Documentary and Public Narrative

In August 2025, Netflix released “The Truth About Jussie Smollett?”, a documentary directed by Gagan Rayhill, which takes a look at the 2019 incident. Featuring interviews with Smollett, the Osundairo brothers, police, and investigators, the film aims to let viewers discover the truth. Critics have called it sympathetic to Smollett, with an IMDb rating of 4.2/10, and argued that it prioritizes sensationalism over clarity. Smollett uses this platform to reiterate his innocence, suggesting that the Osundairo brothers lied to get immunity. Director Ray hill emphasizes the complexity of the case, which reflects a divided society’s struggle with the truth amid declining trust in the media and institutions. The documentary has sparked debate, but has not fully restored Smollett’s image.