October 19th 2023.
Actor Jussie Smollett is receiving much needed help to combat his personal struggles in recent years. A rep for the "Empire" star has confirmed that he has been receiving outpatient rehab treatment to help him through this difficult period.
The rep stated that Smollett had been quietly working hard for some time now, and that they are proud of the steps he is taking. His current treatment comes in the midst of his ongoing appeal in his 2019 Chicago hate crime hoax.
At the time of the incident, Smollett was accused of paying two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, $3,500 to help stage a homophobic and racist attack against him in January 2019. In May 2021, the actor was consequently sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months of felony probation, as well as paying over $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago and a fine of $25,000.
Judge James Linn also reprimanded Smollett, claiming that he had an "arrogance, selfishness and narcissism that's just disgraceful". He went on to accuse the actor of pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, despite not actually being one.
The Cook County state's attorney's office initially dropped the charges months after the alleged attack. However, a new indictment was later brought against him by Special Prosecutor Dan Webb. This eventually led to Smollett being found guilty in December 2021 of lying to police.
Smollett recently appeared in Chicago's First District Appellate Court to argue that backlash over the high-profile celebrity case resulted in properly dismissed charges being improperly restored.
Overall, it seems that Smollett is taking the necessary steps to help himself through this difficult period, and hopefully he will be able to find peace and solace in his recovery.
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