Jussie Smollett turned a regular day in court into a controversial one, after he yelled at the judge over his verdict. On March 10, the ‘Empire’ actor was sentenced to 150 days along with a $25,000 fine for faking a racist, homophobic attack in 2019. Not only did the actor yell at the judge, but he also made a Black power symbol and made threats to the court, which social media was aghast to hear.
The city of Chicago filed a lawsuit against the actor in April 2019, after he was charged by a grand jury for filing a false police report. On December 9, 2021, he was found guilty of the charge, after an inquiry by a special prosecutor. The highly publicized case has seen several controversial moments, including allegations of favoritism by prosecutor Kim Foxx. However, it seems like the most dramatic moment was left for the sentencing, which saw Smollett turn very angry.
Social media quickly began talking about his violent outburst, and within hours people had named him all sorts of things from narcissistic to insane. Even Judge James Linn, who handed down the verdict noted, “The only thing I can find is that you craved the attention” and said he was “throwing a national pity party for yourself.” However, that didn’t stop Smollett from protesting the verdict.
Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building as the jury begins deliberation during his trial on December 8, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Furious Smollett makes threats
While he was sentenced to 150 days, the judge confirmed that he would be eligible for release after 75 days. The judge called the actor “profoundly arrogant and selfish and narcissistic” while reading that verdict, which also includes 30 months of probation. The actor found those terms too extreme for his liking and stood up in court to yell at the judge. “I am not suicidal” he yelled and added, “If I did this then it means I stuck my fist in the fears of black people for over 400 years.”
It did not end there, Smollett went on to say, “If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that.” As he was led out of the court, he continued to yell “I am not suicidal, I am innocent” all while raising his fist to make the Black power symbol. Despite his claims, the actor will be placed on suicide watch while in prison according to reports.
Jussie Smollett after the sentencing: “I am not suicidal. If anything happens to me when I go in there, you must all know that.” pic.twitter.com/xe2wYpQJ4O
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 11, 2022
During the sentencing, the judge also slammed Smollett for doing “damage to actual hate crime victims” and said, “The hypocrisy is just astounding.” He also had some tough words for the actor, calling him a “charlatan” and saying, “‘The damage you have done to yourself is way beyond anything that could be done by me.”
Jussie Smollett called ‘convicted hate crime hoaxer’
“If you have just watched the Jussie Smollett sentencing you have just witnessed full narcissistic mode. A preview of things to come in April,” one user tweeted about the incident. Another said, “I just watched @JussieSmollett’s outbreak following his sentencing. The level of malignant narcissism that this grotesque cretin exhibited is astounding. He has zero sense of shame. He is a Munchausen psychopath.” A third user noted, “The same brazen hubris which led Smollett to believe he’d be able to get away with staging a hate crime as a publicity stunt to capitalize on the racial tensions gripping the United States was on full display during the sentencing hearing.
If you have just watched the Jussie Smollett sentencing you have just witnessed full narcissistic mode. A preview of things to come in April.
— inchhighpi (@SouthernGirlTea) March 11, 2022
I just watched @JussieSmollett’s outbreak following his sentencing. The level of malignant narcissism that this grotesque cretin exhibited is astounding. He has zero sense of shame. He is a Munchausen psychopath.
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) March 11, 2022
The same brazen hubris which led Smollett to believe he’d be able to get away with staging a hate crime as a publicity stunt to capitalize on the racial tensions gripping the United States was on full display during the sentencing hearing.https://t.co/S26mDRDizb
— Rob (@reg1776) March 11, 2022
“Convicted hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett spews a conspiracy rant in court after sentencing… Right on brand, Jussie,” one person mocked. Another tweeted, “Jussie Smollett is, without a doubt, the sickest most narcissistic person I have ever seen in my life. If you didn’t witness his reaction to the judge’s sentencing of him trust me, Google it. It will shock you.”
*story by meaww.com