Jussie Smollett still claims he was victim of hate crime after paying $60,000 to settle hate hoax

Jussie Smollett resurfaced on social media Saturday with a lengthy post insisting he was falsely accused of staging a hate crime in 2019, despite being convicted over the incident. His comments came just days after settling a civil case with the city of Chicago.

The former “Empire” actor reached a deal with the city in which he will donate $60,000 to two local organizations—$50,000 to Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts and another $10,000 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center. This resolves the city’s lawsuit seeking $130,000 to recover the cost of investigating his false police report.

Smollett, now 42, was found guilty in 2021 of orchestrating a hoax in which he claimed two men attacked him in a racist and homophobic assault. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial and afterward, reports the New York Post.

In his Instagram post on Saturday, he again claimed he was the victim.

“Over six years ago, after it was reported I had been jumped, City Officials in Chicago set out to convince the public that I willfully set an assault against myself,” Smollett wrote. “This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear.”

“These officials wanted my money and wanted my confession for something I did not do. Today, it should be clear…They have received neither,” he added.

Smollett’s conviction included five felony counts of disorderly conduct. However, those charges were later overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court—not because of a lack of evidence, but due to a technical violation of his Fifth Amendment rights after the Cook County State’s Attorney initially dropped the charges.

“Make no mistake: Today’s ruling has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett’s innocence,” said special prosecutor Dan Webb at the time of the ruling. “The Illinois Supreme Court did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial… or the jury’s unanimous verdict that Mr. Smollett was guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct.”

Still, Smollett used his latest social media post to declare vindication.

“However, despite arduous and expensive attempts to punish me, I am innocent in the eyes of God and our criminal justice system,” he wrote.

“I will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear and defending my integrity and family name with the truth,” he added. “To everyone who has supported me, thank you. Your prayers and belief in me mean more than words can properly express. With Love & Respect, Jussie Smollett.”