During Jussie Smollett's defense teams' cross-examination of the prosecution's star witness on Thursday, they alleged that Smollett and one of his alleged assailants had dated, and the attack was fueled by a desire to be Smollett's security guard.
One of Smollett's two alleged attackers, 28-year-old Abimbola Osundairo, sat on the witness stand for a second day in Chicago criminal court, this time bring questioned by defense attorney Shay Allen for two hours, according to the New York Post.
"Allen tried to paint Osundairo as a liar, drug dealer and opportunist who used his relationship with Smollett to further his career and told the star he'd make this 'all go away' and not testify if he paid him and his brother, Olabinjo, $1 million each," wrote the outlet.
"You told him if he gave you and your brother a million dollars each, you wouldn't testify?" Allen asked Osundairo, who replied with, "No."
Allen attempted to make the claims hat the two were dating at the start of the cross-examination, asking suddenly when he and Smollett started dating.
"We were never dating," said Osundairo.
Osundairo told jurors on Wednesday that he and Smollett had gone to the Steamworks bathhouse together in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood, which is reportedly a predominantly gay community.
On Thursday, Allen asked Osundairo if gay pornography had been playing on the televisions inside the spa when they visited.
"I don't recall," Osundairo said.
"You don't recall seeing gay pornography? … You don't remember masturbating with him?" Allen pressed.
"No," replied Osundairo.
Allen also questioned if Osundairo thought there was "sexual tension" between he and Smollett, and asked if Smollett had a crush on him.
Osundairo said he "didn't know" there was sexual tension.
Allen also attempted to bring up how homosexuality is received in Nigeria, where the two brothers have strong ties, as well as how Osundairo reportedly previously called someone on the set of Empire a "f*ggot," in order to argue that the attack was fueled by hate and homophobia. The prosecution though successfully objected to the questions.
Prosecutors are arguing that Smollett paid their star witnesses $3,500 to stage the hate crime.
The defense is arguing that the attack was real, and that it was carried out because the two brothers are homophobic, or wanted to intimidate Smollett into hiring Osundairo as his security guard for $5,000 monthly salary.
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy
