Jussie Smollett has officially settled his long-running legal dispute with the city of Chicago by making a $50,000 charitable donation, closing a major chapter in a saga that began back in 2019 when he claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime.
Six years after the incident that captured national attention and led to a legal rollercoaster, the former Empire star made the decision to pay up, but not to the city directly. Instead, he’s directed the money to a nonprofit organization close to his heart, turning a contentious situation into a moment of goodwill.
Taking to Instagram with a detailed statement, Smollett explained why he ultimately chose to settle. “Over six years ago, after it was reported I had been jumped, city officials in Chicago set out to convince the public that I willfully set an assault against myself. This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear,” he wrote. “These officials wanted my money and wanted my confession for something I did not do. Today, it should be clear. They have received neither.” Despite insisting on his innocence, Smollett agreed to make the donation in exchange for the dismissal of the civil lawsuit filed by the city.
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The money is going to the Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts (BBF), a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on giving underserved youth a chance to express themselves through the arts. Smollett made it clear that this choice was personal. “Despite what happened there politically, Chicago was my home for over 5 years, and the people became my family. Therefore, making a donation to benefit Chicago communities that are too often neglected by those in power will always be something I support,” he said. “I’m comforted that there will be at least one winner from this experience.”
This latest update comes after years of public and legal drama. Back in March 2022, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail for allegedly staging the attack and filing a false police report. But in a major turn, his convictions were later overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court, which unanimously agreed with his legal team’s argument that his rights were violated when a special prosecutor decided to retry the case, even though the initial charges had been dropped. That reversal was a massive win for Smollett, who has maintained his innocence from the start.
“There was no hoax,” he insisted all along. And while public opinion remains divided, Smollett says he’s choosing peace and forward motion. “Though I was exonerated by the Illinois Supreme Court in a unanimous decision and the civil case will now be dismissed, I’m aware that it will not change everyone’s mind about me or the attack I experienced,” he wrote. “However, despite arduous and expensive attempts to punish me, I am innocent in the eyes of God and our criminal justice system.”
Now that the legal chaos is behind him, Smollett says he’s ready to focus on his art and activism. “I will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear, and defending my integrity and family name with the truth,” he added.
So, the case is closed, the donation has been made, and Jussie Smollett is officially out of court. Whether this clears his name in the eyes of the public is still up for debate, but as far as he’s concerned, he’s done explaining. He’s paid his dues, not with guilt, but with generosity, and he’s moving on.
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