Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in prison and 30 months of felony probation on Thursday for forging a hate crime attack on himself in 2019.
In December, Smollett, 39, was found guilty of five counts for reporting a false attack on himself. The gay African American actor told Chicago police in January 2019 that two strangers attacked and hurled racial slurs at him during the incident. The claim, later found to be false, saw Smollett receive a fine of $25,000, in addition to $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago.
During the sentencing, the actor lashed out in court, screaming, “I am not suicidal, I am innocent,” as Cook County Judge James delivered the verdict. Smollett was promptly taken into custody post the outburst.
