CNN+ to Examine Jussie Smollett Case in New Documentary

Jussie Smollett has shared a new track that touches upon his recent high-profile court case – listen to ‘Thank You God’ below.The Empire actor was sentenced to 150 days in prison last month after being found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct pertaining to a police report he filed on January 29, 2019 in which he claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago.Following his sentencing, Smollett’s lawyers launched an appeal and he was released from Cook County jail on March 16 after signing a $150,000 (£114,000) personal recognisance bond, which doesn’t require him to pay any money if he appears in court for future proceedings.On Friday (April 8), the Empire actor shared a new single called ‘Thank You God’, a shiny R&B number that references his December court case.“It’s like they’re hell-bent on not solving the crime/ Taking out the elements of race and trans and homophobia that’s straight taking lives/ But turn around and act like I’m the one that killed the strides,” Smollett raps on the track.Later, he adds: “I can’t be mad/ Take my ego out/ Some people searching for fame/ Some people chasing that clout/ Just remember this, this ain’t that situation/ You think I’m stupid enough to kill my reputation?”You can listen to ‘Thank You God’ below:Smollett has dedicated ‘Thank You God’ to “the people who kept it real”, and he’s donating all profits from the track to social justice organisations Rainbow Push Coalition, Secure The Bag Safety, and Illinois Innocence Project.During Smollett’s trial in December last year, brothers Amimbola and Olabingo Osundairo testified that the actor had recruited them to help him stage an attack in an effort to boost the actor’s publicity, and were paid $3,500

Jussie Smollett has a new song out – and it’s not Jailhouse Rock.

Jussie Smollett is back at work fresh off his release from prison.

Jussie Smollett’s brother appeared to cast doubt in the Chicago Police Department’s investigation into the hate crime hoax attack the "Empire" actor was convicted of last month. Jocqui Smollett took to his brother Jussie’s Instagram account on Friday to pose the question as to why the Chicago Police Department "needs such a PR DEPARTMENT as if they are a Hollywood film studio." "Because their entire SURVIVAL rides on FEEDING YOU FICTITIOUS STORIES that they DESPERATELY need YOU to buy," Smollett claimed in the caption of a 3:20-minute video shared to the actor’s Instagram profile in which he took aim at Anthony Guglielmi, who at the time of the CPD’s investigation into the Smollett hoax was the acting Chief Communications Officer for CPD and the Office of the Police Superintendent.

CNN+, which launched on Tuesday, has created a new documentary unit to produce quick turnaround documentaries.

The family of Jussie Smollett are speaking out.

The family of Jussie Smollett are speaking out.

Attorneys representing Jussie Smollett in his fake hate crime case have filed a malicious prosecution complaint in response to a defamation suit filed by Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo — two brothers who testified that they had participated in the elaborate hoax — claiming that one lawyer on the defense team defamed the pair when she suggested they had been wearing "whiteface" while carrying out of the ordeal. Tina Glandian made comments on NBC's "Today" show in March 2019, shortly after the Cook County State's Attorney announced it was dropping charges accusing Smollett of lying to police about the incident two months earlier, and in those remarks, Glandian alleged that the Osundairo brothers, who hail from Nigeria and are Black, might have "put makeup on" to disguise their color.

CHICAGO -- A judge in Chicago ruled Friday that an attorney for Jussie Smollett might have defamed two Black brothers who testified that they participated in a fake racist and homophobic attack on the actor when she suggested they had been wearing “whiteface”The Chicago Tribune reported that U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland's ruling centers on comments Tina Glandian made on NBC's “Today” show in March 2019, shortly after the Cook County State's Attorney announced it was dropping charges accusing Smollett of lying to police about the incident two months earlier.Discussing how Smollett had told police that one of his attackers was white, Glandian said that the very dark-skinned brothers might have “put makeup on" to disguise their color.

CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett walked out of a Chicago jail after serving six days and walked into months, if not years, of uncertainty — from what's next for his career as an actor and performer to whether he'll eventually be back behind bars.The former star of the TV show “Empire" was sentenced last week to 150 days in jail plus probation and a fine after a jury found him guilty of lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago in 2019. His release late Wednesday came hours after an appellate court ordered he could go free during the appeal process, which wouldn't be completed before Smollett had served his full sentence.Smollett, who is Black and gay, has maintained his innocence.

Empire actor was sentenced to 150 days in prison last week after being found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct pertaining to a police report he filed on January 29, 2019 over a fake incident in Chicago.Following his sentencing, Smollett’s lawyers launched an appeal. The actor left Cook County jail on Wednesday (March 16) after signing a $150,000 (£114,000) personal recognisance bond, which doesn’t require him to pay any money if he appears in court for future proceedings.Smollett, who has maintained his innocence throughout the case, left jail without comment.

What's next for Jussie Smollett after his release from jail on Wednesday? Several legal experts gave their opinions in interviews with Fox News Digital. Smollett was granted a release on bond from the Cook County Jail in Illinois pending the appeal of his conviction.

Jussie Smollett to be released from Cook County Jail on bond, pending the appeal of his conviction.Last Wednesday, Smollett had been sentenced to 150 days in behind bars and immediately remanded into custody. On Thursday, Judge James B.

CHICAGO -- Jussie Smollett was released from jail following six nights behind bars after an appeals court agreed with his lawyers that he should be free pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.The former “Empire” actor walked out of the Cook County Jail on Wednesday surrounded by security. He did not comment as he got into an awaiting SUV, but his attorneys said Smollett, who is Black and gay, was the target of a racist justice system and people playing politics.The appeals court ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police.

Jussie Smollett was ordered released from jail Wednesday by an appeals court that agreed with his lawyers that he should be released pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAn appeals court ordered former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett released from jail on Wednesday, just seven days into a 150-day sentence for faking a hate crime.In a 2-1 ruling, the justices ordered Smollett released pending the appeal of his conviction, on the condition that he post a $150,000 bond.Smollett was sentenced to serve five months in the Cook County jail, after being convicted at trial in December of five counts of disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony. Smollett was found guilty of staging a hate attack, in which he claimed to have been assaulted by two men who yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him and put a noose around his neck in January 2019.Smollett was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago, for the cost of paying overtime to officers who investigated the purported attack.

Jussie Smollett to be released from Cook County Jail on bond, pending the appeal of his conviction, according to multiplereports.Last Wednesday, Smollett had been sentenced to 150 days in behind bars and immediately remanded into custody. On Thursday, Judge James B.

A court ordered the release of Jussie Smollett from jail on bond as the appeal of his conviction is pending. Smollett was recently sentenced to 150 days in jail after being convicted of lying to Chicago police about being the victim of a hate crime back in 2019.  Smollett’s attorneys had argued that he would have completed the sentence by the time the appeal process was completed and that Smollett could be in danger of physical harm if he remained locked up in Cook County Jail.