Jussie Smollett's older brother is sticking by the Empire actor's story, saying that his treatment by the media and police has been unjust. In a new op-ed forBET, JoJo Smollett questioned the sudden belief in the official line of a police department that has been guilty of misconduct in the past.
"It has not yet been 90 days since my younger brother, Jussie Smollett, was assaulted on a cold winter night in Chicago. Within less than three months, his life has been turned upside down as my family and I have witnessed him endure unrelenting attacks to his character and reputation," he said. "To define this experience as unjust would be an understatement."
Smollett wrote that his brother was found guilty in the court of public opinion before any trial was held
"Is that all it takes to destroy a lifelong dedication to one’s craft and community? Is it really that easy to convince the world of a person’s guilt? Is that all it takes to turn someone’s life upside down in America?" he wrote. "Simply ask yourself this, 'What if Jussie is telling the truth?'"
The charges against Smollett were dropped because prosecutors were unsure if they could convict Smollett based on the evidence. While prosecutor Kim Foxx said that there was "considerable evidence, uncovered in large part due to the investigative work of the Chicago Police Department, suggesting that portions of Smollett’s claims may have been untrue" but added that that evidence and testimony together "made securing a conviction against Smollett uncertain."
