Less than a week after his sentencing, actor Jussie Smollett has been released from the Cook County Jail, according to Deadline. The former Empire actor had been sentenced to 150 days, 300 hours of probation, and ordered to pay up to $120,000 in restitution. He was convicted of five felony counts of disorderly conduct related to claims he faked a 2019 hate crime. Smollett was walked out of jail around 8 p.m. Chicago time.
According to Deadline, Smollett’s defense team submitted a motion for a stay of the sentence as they request a second appeal. His team based the argument for his release on the fact he has no prior convictions, and he would have been a free man by the time their appeal trial began. The Illinois Appellate Court sided with Smollett’s team in a 2-1 decision.
Since Smollett’s sentencing, the news has been filled with public outcry for his release, along with day-by-day reports of his condition. Members of his family, including sister Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country), posted the hashtag #FREEJUSSIE on social media maintaining his innocence and that the punishment did not fit the crime. They were joined by Smollett’s Empire co-star, Taraji P. Henson, who even cited the case of Emmett Till in defense of the stance that Smollett did not belong in jail.
In recent days, Deadline reports daily updates of Smollett’s condition seemed harrowing, with another sibling posting that he had been moved to the psychiatric ward to prevent any instance of self-harm. Smollett had already been secluded from other inmates and was under guarded surveillance. This development seemed to be a product of prophecy harkening back to the last words Smollett announced at the end of this sentencing hearing.
Before being taken to jail, Smollet sternly pleaded, “I am not suicidal!” to the presiding judge and court. He maintained his innocence and swore, “If anything happens to me in there, I did not do it.” Upon his release this evening, his lawyer informed the press their client had not eaten any substance other than water.
Smollett was found guilty of paying two Empire extras to stage a racist and homophobic attack on a cold January day three years ago. The alleged attack and subsequent investigation found the star written out of the hit Fox series amidst the fifth season.