Jussie Smollett Reunites With Supportive Co-star Taraji P. Henson For A Workout Session

Jussie Smollett continues to receive the unwavering love of his former co-star Taraji P. Henson. As the embattled actor's legal troubles persist, his onscreen mother's support remains consistent.

The beloved singer fell from grace in 2019 after claiming to be the victim of a hate crime. The incident occurred at the height of the media personality's fame as Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series, "Empire."

After fans rallied behind the 41-year-old, calling for the heads of his homophobic assailants, authorities claimed the alleged crime was staged. Retribution swiftly followed, with the California native being convicted for filing a false police report.

Despite the backlash he received, the "Think Like A Man" actress refused to leave the entertainer's corner. The Oscar nominee was recently seen spending quality time with the "Conqueror" artist. Please keep scrolling to learn more about their date!

Over the weekend, paparazzi spotted the "On Our Own" star out in Los Angeles with his onscreen mom by his side. As seen in the pictures shared by TMZ, the duo appeared to have returned from a hike, given their outfits and sweaty appearance.

For the sunny affair, Henson donned an all-black ensemble that gave onlookers a glimpse of her toned stomach. The 52-year-old rocked a sports bra over a pair of form-fitting sweatpants and tied a jacket around her waist.

The mother of one accessorized the sporty look with a black fanny pack and sneakers. She tied a blue bandana on her head while her black tresses were pulled into a high bun. For the final touch, the Washington native wore sunglasses and carried a water keg in one hand.

Meanwhile, Smollett opted for a similar style with a blue tank top, black shorts, and white sneakers while a gray tee was wrapped around his neck. He wore a brown newsboy cap over his dark curls and shielded his eyes from the sun with sunglasses. Like his former colleague, the 41-year-old stayed hydrated with a beverage in his hand.

After their presumed hike, the sweaty pair regained their strength at a pop-in restaurant before ending their reunion with a sweet embrace outside the establishment. The duo's workout session came a year after the "No Good Deed" actress weighed in on Smollett's sentencing over his alleged hate crime hoax.

In 2022, the California native received 150 days behind bars after being convicted of five out of six counts of disorderly conduct for filing false police reports. The guilty verdict resulted from "The Mighty Ducks" actor's inconsistent recollection of the incident.

Prosecutors argued that the entertainer had enlisted the help of his alleged assailants to stage the crime, and the jury agreed with the notion. Alongside his incarceration, Smollett received 30 months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of more than $120,000 to the City of Chicago and a fine of $25,000.

Following the announcement of his verdict, Henson took to Instagram with a "#FREEJUSSIE" and a passionate message about the entertainer's situation. In her post's caption, the 52-year-old stated her onscreen son's "punishment does not fit the crime."

The Washington native compared the actor's case to that of Emmett Till. The late 14-year-old was brutally murdered in 1955 after a white woman named Carolyn Bryant lied about an offense. Noting that Smollett did not cause anyone harm with his alleged lie, the mother of one penned:

"No one was hurt or killed during Jussie’s ordeal. He has already lost everything, EVERYTHING! To me, as an artist, not able to create that in itself is punishment enough."

Months before reuniting with Henson in LA, the "F.U.W." artist made headlines for fighting against the 150-day jail time given for his alleged 2019 hate crime. The BET Award nominee served six days of incarceration before being released pending his appeal.

According to the court documents filed in the First Judicial District of the State of Illinois, Smollett's attorney Heather Widell cited double jeopardy. The legal representative claimed the California native was being “punished for the same offenses by his performance of community service and forfeiture of his bond.”

Per the laws of “double jeopardy,” the 41-year-old's defense team stressed the actor should not have been convicted after the first charges against him were dismissed. Additionally, they argued that the $120,000 compensation to the Chicago Police Department was invalid.

The Fox alum's lawyers insisted the police department was not a  “victim” according to Illinois law; therefore, the restitution order should be overturned. Smollett's team also came after Judge James Linn, who they accused of using a “personal retributive tone” during their client's sentencing.