What to know about the trial of Jussie Smollett as jury selection begins

Jussie Smollett
(Image credit: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Almost three years after Jussie Smollett was accused of staging a fake hate crime against himself, the actor is going on trial.

Jury selection in the trial of Smollett, known for his role on the Fox series Empire, begins Monday. He faces charges of disorderly conduct after allegedly making false statements to police. In 2019, Smollett alleged two men attacked him in Chicago, yelling homophobic and racist slurs and placing a noose around his neck. He also said they yelled, "This is MAGA country." But police later alleged he staged the attack as a "publicity stunt" because he was unhappy with his salary, and two men, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, claim Smollett paid them $3,500 to help stage the attack.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.