Rahm Emanuel wants Jussie Smollett to write Chicago a $130,000 check that says 'I'm accountable for the hoax'

Rahm Emanuel
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A still-fuming Rahm Emanuel on Thursday said Empire star Jussie Smollett owes the city of Chicago an apology — and a check.

The Chicago mayor, who for the past three days has been blasting Smollett and the prosecutors who dropped all of the charges against him, said the actor should pay back the money spent on his investigation. Chicago police spent weeks investigating Smollett's claim that he was the victim of a hate crime, only to conclude that he orchestrated the crime himself. Smollett has maintained his innocence, and all charges against him were dropped earlier this week.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
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.