Jussie Smollett, the former “Empire” star, took the stand in a Chicago courtroom on Monday and denied that he staged a hate crime against himself nearly three years ago, according to lo…
Last week, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo told the jury that Smollett had paid them $3,500 to stage the attack. Smollett testified that the payment was for Abimbola Osundairo’s services as a trainer, as Smollett needed to get in shape for a music video.
Smollett also testified that he and Abimbola Osundairo had a couple of sexual encounters, contradicting Abimbola’s testimony that there was no sexual relationship between the two. Smollett also testified that he had a frosty relationship with Olabinjo Osundairo. Smollett was also asked about a text message in which he told Abimbola he needed some help “on the low.” Prosecutors have said that was a reference to staging the attack, but Smollett claimed that he was asking Abimbola to help him acquire an herbal steroid that was legal in Nigeria but not in the U.S.
Smollett was written off of “Empire” after the incident, and he told jurors he has not secured a major role since then.Smollett peppered his testimony with pop culture references. Explaining why he would not want bruises or marks on his face, he said his character on “Empire” was supposed to look like a “Black Cary Grant.” He also make allusions to “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Looney Tunes.”
Toward the end of the day, former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb — who is leading the prosecution as a special prosecutor — began his cross-examination. Webb focused on why Smollett did not agree to turn over his phone to police, suggesting that he knew that the phone would help police connect him to Abimbola Osundairo. He also asked Smollett to identify the herbal steroid that he was seeking from Nigeria, and Smollett could not name it.
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