Jussie Smollett, a singer and actor, made headlines in 2019 when he claimed to have been a victim of a racially motivated attack in California, U.S.A. However, the police found too many discrepancies in his story and the actor was accused of staging the crime. This whole incident had two very different opinions. One side believed that Jussie had staged the crime in an attempt to gain limelight. Another side still believes in his innocence.
Nearly six years after the case, Gagan Rehill has teamed up with Netflix to bring a documentary depicting these two divided opinions. The documentary, titled The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, presents all the investigations and analysis of the case. As the documentary has piqued people’s interest in the case again, here’s everything to know about the Jussie Smollett case.
Jussie Smollett alleged being a victim of a racial attack
In January 2019, Jussie Smollett filed a report with the police alleging assault. The singer and actor claimed that near his house in downtown California, he was attacked by two men wearing blacklava. Jussie, who is African American and gay, claimed that the two men called him racial and homophobic slurs, poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck. The actor filed a report with the Chicago police immediately while still wearing the noose around his neck, as per NBC News.
Police accuse Jussie Smollett of filing a false report and arrested him
A month after the alleged assault took place, the police arrested Jussie, citing staging the hate crime and filing a false report as the reason. The police also arrested Ola and Abimbola Osundairo, two brothers who worked on the sets of Jussie’s show, Empire. The brothers alleged that Jussie had asked them to beat him up and post footage of it online. The brother duo were also arrested since they were the only people in the area where the alleged crime took place. However, after questioning, they were released.
Ola and Abimbola also made an appearance in the documentary. The two claim that Jussie made everything up. After this information came forward, many people were of the opinion that Jussie had staged the hate crime hoax to further his career and get the limelight. Speaking in the documentary about the singer, Abimbola stated:
“I believe he wanted to be the poster boy of activism for Black people, for gay people, or for marginalized people.”
Jussie Smollett settled the case with the City of Chicago
Over the course of six years, a long legal battle ensued between Jussie Smollett and the City of Chicago. He was convicted, arrested, and then released, after which he was sued for investigation costs and more within these six years. All this while, Jussie stood strong on his initial claims of being attacked and claimed innocence. Finally, in 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned Jussie Smollett’s conviction. Taking to his Instagram in May 2025, Jussie also stated that he had reached a settlement with the City of Chicago, as a result of which he would be making charitable donations to benefit the community.
More about the documentary, The Truth About Jussie Smollett?
The Truth About Jussie Smollett? is available to stream on Netflix from August 22, 2025. The director, Gagan Rehill, told Tudum that he wants the viewers to see for themselves and interpret whichever versions of the truth they want. Along with the crux of the incident, Jussie Smollett, several other official stakeholders of the story have given interviews in the documentary, explaining their side of the ‘truth’. Talking about the incident, Gagan Rehill shared:
“I hope to let the viewer sit, watch, and grapple with whichever truth they interpret from what they see. And, most importantly, to consider the nature of truth itself in our ever-increasingly polarized society.”
What are your thoughts on the Jussie Smollett case that is depicted in the documentary by Gagan Rehill? Let us know.
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