Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to 5 months behind bars for staging a hate crime in Chicago, and reportedly believes his race was a figuring out consider his sentencing.
The actor, 39, greatest identified for his function on Fox drama “Empire” informed his protection group earlier than sentencing that he anticipated jail time and believed he’d be handled extra harshly for the non-violent offense than others convicted of comparable crimes as a result of coloration of his pores and skin, sources informed TMZ.
For Smollett, it’s additional proof of systemic racism within the judicial system.
He reportedly informed his group he was “lifeless on” in predicting the result, calling it “unlucky” and “unhappy.”
Decide James Linn sentenced Smollett to 30 months of probation, the primary 5 of which he should spend within the Cook dinner County jail, and ordered him to pay town of Chicago $120,000 in restitution and a $25,000 tremendous after he was discovered responsible on 5 counts of felony disorderly conduct following his eight-day trial late final yr.
Whereas Smollett declined to talk earlier than his sentence was handed down, he instantly started to proclaim his innocence as he was led away in handcuffs following Decide Linn’s choice.
“I’m harmless! I might’ve mentioned I used to be responsible a very long time in the past!” Smollett said in court docket.
“I’m not suicidal. I’m harmless and I’m not suicidal. If I did this, then it signifies that I shoved my fist within the fears of Black Individuals on this nation for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBTQ neighborhood,” Smollett shouted.
“Your honor, I respect you and I respect your choice, however I didn’t do that and I’m not suicidal and if something occurs to me once I go there, I didn’t do it to myself and you could all know that.”
