Jussie Smollett Trial Begins: ‘Take Your Punishment Like A Real Man’

Actor Jussie Smollett is going to trial.

On Monday, November 29, 2021, jury selection started for the trial of the former “Empire” star. In 2019, Smollett alleged that he was the victim of a homophobic and racist attack and filed a police complaint.

As The Blast reported in 2020, the police investigated the incident and discovered that Smollett had paid two of his close friends over three thousand dollars to stage the attack so he could file a false complaint to the police.

Smollett, 39, has now been indicted on six counts based on filing a fraudulent police report; however, the sixteen felony disorderly conduct counts against Smollett have been dropped. Smollett has pled not guilty to the charges against him.

Criminal Defense Attorney Jonna Spilbor told Fox News that there are two types of people that plead not guilty when they go to trial.

“The first camp are people who have an abiding belief in their innocence and want vindication and the only way to do that is to go to trial and get a not guilty verdict,” she began.

She continued, “The other camp is exactly the opposite. They really don’t have a legal leg to stand on. The prosecutor isn’t making any offers, and if they go to trial they have nothing to lose, but maybe they can get one juror out of twelve to feel a little sorry and come back with a mistrial or something better than that.”

She concluded, “Jessie Smollett falls into the second camp.”

Spilbor had some harsh words for Smollett and believes that it will be difficult for him to defend against the charges against him in light of the overwhelming evidence in this case.

“He was using the country to get a step up in his career,” she added. “Then he goes on national television and doubles down and lies about his lies. If I was prosecuting him, I would play that video when it comes down to sentencing, because there seems to be a whole lot of evidence against Jussie Smollett. A paper trail. A money trail. Two brothers who are going to testify against him.”

Many individuals took to social media in order to share their own thoughts on the Jussie Smollett case. Many overwhelmingly believe that he’s guilty of fabricating the alleged attack and falsely reporting it to police.

“He caused so much divide in the country when he did this he must be held accountable,” one user wrote.

“He's an enemy to the entire country,” another shared. “This is someone who knowingly stoked racial flames. To set up his own attack is beyond disgusting.”

Another wrote, “I'm glad to see this fella isn't getting let off the hook for his antics.”

“The jury shouldn't deliberate longer than a ten-minute coffee break,” another joked.

“Oh, Juicy. I almost feel sorry for your defense team because your credibility is exactly zero,” said another. “Just stop lying, admit your stupidity and take your punishment like a real man would.”

Another concluding the matter by saying, “Time he faced the music, let the jury decide it. He hurt a lot of people trying to fake a racial attack so he could exploit it to get a raise. His castmates on Empire, those the police couldn't help when dealing with his fake call... Hope and pray for everyone to see the light and do the right things for everyone, not just themselves.”