Chicago — The City of Chicago and actor Jussie Smollett have reached a settlement following a lengthy legal battle that began in 2019 after Smollett reported a highly publicized hate crime that was later determined to be a hoax. The settlement comes six years after the city pursued legal action against the former “Empire” star, who claimed he was attacked due to his race and sexual orientation.
In April 2019, the city filed a civil lawsuit against Smollett, alleging that he filed a false police report after the incident, which took place in January of that year. Authorities quickly expressed skepticism about Smollett’s claims, later revealing that he was accused of orchestrating the attack himself. The suit sought to recover $130,000 for the resources expended in the police investigation.
Smollett, maintaining his innocence, filed a countersuit in the same year, disputing the accusations against him. On Monday, both parties informed the court that they had come to a settlement agreement, but indicated that more time was needed to complete the necessary documentation. Specifics of the agreement, however, remain undisclosed.
The court set a status hearing originally slated for April 30 and has postponed it to May 29. Requests for comments from the Chicago Department of Law and Smollett’s attorney were not returned.
The controversy began when Smollett reported being assaulted by two men in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, claiming they targeted him because of his race and sexual orientation. The investigation led to the arrest of brothers Ola and Abimbola Osundairo, who later testified that Smollett had paid them to assist in staging the attack for publicity purposes.
In February 2019, Smollett was arrested and subsequently indicted on charges of filing a false police report. While the initial charges were dropped, a special prosecutor later revived the case, leading to additional charges in February 2020. Smollett faced a trial that concluded in December 2021, resulting in convictions on five of the six counts against him.
The actor received a sentence in 2022 that included 150 days in jail and 30 months of probation. The trial revealed that the Osundairo brothers had received a $3,500 payment, which Smollett claimed was for personal training services, instead of any wrongdoing related to the alleged attack.
In a surprising turn of events, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned Smollett’s conviction in November 2024, citing prosecutorial misconduct and arguing that Smollett should not have been charged after entering a nonprosecution agreement with Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
As both parties prepare to finalize their settlement, the resolution provides a significant chapter closure in a high-profile case that has captivated and divided public opinion.