What were the charges against Jussie Smollett? All about actors' alleged hate crime as Netflix releases new documentary

In early 2019, Jussie Smollett said he was attacked in Chicago. Reports by The Guardian and People state that, as per Jussie, two men yelled racist and homophobic words at him, and they tied a rope around his neck. They also poured bleach on him. He claimed that they yelled "MAGA country." This was first called a hate crime, which left everyone shocked and sad.

Reports by People further state that soon, the police began to doubt his story, and they looked at the video cameras. They saw two men who worked with him, the Osundairo brothers. They were Nigerian American. The police said Smollett paid them to pretend to attack him, for which he faced charges. He was charged with disorderly conduct for filing a false police report and was accused of making six false reports.

Charges and legal steps against Jussie Smollett

As per the reports by Vanity Fair, Jussie Smollett filed a report with the police that he was attacked on January 29, 2019. He said the attackers poured bleach on him and tortured him in various other ways, while using hate words. After tracing the Osundairo brothers, they flew to Nigeria right after. Police found proof that Smollett gave them $3,500 to fake the incident. They also found that one brother bought the rope that was used.

Reports by The Guardian confirm that, first, in 2019, the charges were dropped in a deal that stated that Smollett had to do community service and give up a $10,000 bond. After that, the city sued him for the cost of the investigation. But in 2020, new charges were brought by a special prosecutor. A grand jury found out that he was guilty on six counts of disorderly conduct, and in 2021, he went to trial once again. After that, in 2022, he was sent to jail for 150 days but got probation. He also had to pay more than $120,000 in restitution and served only six days in jail. He was released while he appealed.

Late in 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled his conviction had to be vacated. They stated that retrying him after the previous dismissal violated his rights. Through it all, Smollett maintains he did nothing wrong. He said the payment was for herbal supplements, not for a fabricated attack.

Netflix documentary explores Jussie Smollett's case again

A new documentary on Netflix is now out, which is called The Truth About Jussie Smollett? It came out on August 22, 2025. This film looks at all sides again and shows interviews with police, legal experts, journalists, and Smollett himself. It also features the Osundairo brothers.

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It goes over the attack, the police work, the trial, and how the news and the public saw it. It asks questions about truth, trust, and justice. It does not say who was right or wrong but simply shows different views. Smollett speaks in the film and says the public reaction made him feel weak and stripped of strength. He repeats that the money was for supplements, not a fake attack.

The film also shows how some people say police may have been unfair or biased. It raises questions but does not offer a final answer. Jussie Smollett got charged and convicted, and then the conviction was overturned. He still says he is innocent. The Netflix film now looks at the case again, with many voices and no clear end in sight. This movie has got people talking about this case again, and the reactions have been strong.

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