Jussie Smollett is proclaiming the reason why he was sentenced to serve 150 days in jail on Thursday is because he’s Black. The now disgraced actor fully expected to received a jail sentence because of his race, and not because he’s guilty staging the hate crime that he claims to have endured in September 2019.
The former ‘Empire’ star, who’s still denying to have any involvement in planning the hate crime hoax in Chicago, told his defense team before his sentencing he felt he would be treated more harshly than other defendants convicted of a non-violent crime. He believed his sentence would be longer because he’s Black, and his sentencing is more evidence of systemic racism in the judicial system.
Smollett also told his team after his sentencing he was right when he predicted the outcome. He pointed to the fact that he felt the judge in his case showed animosity toward him. The actor’s predication came after the judge said during court proceedings that the hoax was rooted in his desire to obtain more fame and attention.While serving his sentence, Smollett will be held in protective custody, as he requested. Security cameras and an officer with a body-worn camera will monitoring the actor’s cell.
The sentence also comes after Smollett reportedly spoke out in court about not being suicidal. He shared his mental state to make it clear to the public that if something were to happen to him in jail, it was foul play,Smollett was taken into custody following Thursday’s sentencing. He later spoke with his defense team on Friday, during which time he told them he’s okay and filled with hope.
