The Illinois Supreme Court has overturned actor Jussie Smollett‘s conviction for staging a hate crime, and fans are pissed. The Empire star garnered mass support in 2019 when he claimed two men harassed him for being gay. However, investigations revealed Smollett had staged the homophobic and racial incident, hence his guilty conviction in 2021. But the case was not that simple, as Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx initially dropped the charges.
Foxx dismissed the 16 charges against Smollett in April 2019 before she recused herself from the case. Former U.S. attorney Dan Webb joined the legal drama as a special prosecutor, pushing for the actor’s punishment. Through Webb’s efforts, Smollett was found guilty of five of six disorderly conduct charges on December 9, 2021. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probation, and over $130,000 in restitution.
Smollett served six days of the sentence while fighting to overturn his conviction. The Appellate Court of Illinois denied his request in December 2023. However, the actor did not give up, taking his case to the Illinois Supreme Court in September 2024. The Supreme Court sided with Smollett, claiming the second prosecution against him was wrong. Because his charges were initially dropped in 2019, he should not have been dragged back to court. The order, per Chicago’s WGN9, partly read:
“We hold that a second prosecution under these circumstances is a due process violation, and we therefore reverse defendant’s conviction.”
Fans Are Appalled by the Illinois Supreme Court’s Decision To Overturn Jussie Smollett’s Conviction
The dismissal of Smollett’s conviction sparked heated conversations on X, with many slamming the Supreme Court’s decision. Someone labeled them a “clown show,” with another declaring:
“I will boycott anything related to Jussie Smollett. ‘Vindictive persecution’??? WHAT A LIE! He’s guilty AF!”
A third could not believe the news, stressing that the justice system had failed again. “When will accountability matter?” the commenter wondered. A fourth echoed similar sentiments, claiming Smollett had endangered lives with his hoax hate crime. More X users bashed the Illinois Supreme Court, with someone noting their decision was “Completely and totally ridiculous!” A critic wondered if the court always favored celebrities, while a fellow displeased fan penned, “Let me guess…. he’s going to now sue the state and be awarded hundreds of millions in punitive damages?”
Smollett has maintained his innocence in the case, sharing the same stance in a September interview. He addressed the online criticism he had received, noting he was “numb” and confused about the public’s perception. The TV personality thought there was “no way” the public would believe “a stupid rumor.” He felt most of the trolling was by “haters” on a mission to destroy his image.
Smollett confessed that it was a “painful” experience that required years of self-reflection and healing. “We’re still dealing with the repercussions from that narrative. We’re still dealing with that every day,” Smollett told PEOPLE. “At the same time, it’s not in my mental, and it’s not in my soul; it’s not in my spirit.”
Why many may not like it, Jussie Smollett can finally put the hate crime scandal behind him.
