Jussie Smollett will pay a $50,000 donation to a Chicago nonprofit as part of a settlement with the city over the expenses related to investigating his 2019 hate crime hoax. The money will go to the Building Better Futures Center for the Arts, which provides support to underserved youth through mental health services, as well as programs in music, acting, and art.
The city had originally filed a civil lawsuit aiming to recoup more than $120,000 spent on the investigation of Smollett’s fabricated attack. Back in 2021, Smollett was convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct connected to the false report. But in 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned his conviction after he reached a plea deal with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. The agreement required him to complete community service and give up his $10,000 bond.
Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb emphasized at the time, “Make no mistake, today’s ruling has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett’s innocence. The Illinois Supreme Court did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial… or the jury’s unanimous verdict.”
Under the terms of this latest arrangement, Smollett is not admitting guilt. Instead, the city agreed to accept the donation as a way to avoid further legal action. This settlement closes the chapter on the costly civil lawsuit tied to the high-profile case involving the former ‘Empire’ actor.
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