Jussie Smollett Reclaims Spotlight Just Days After Appeal, Says Ancestors Are ‘Guiding’ Him Through Legal Battle
Jussie Smollett has experienced a wild five years in the spotlight. In 2019, he concluded his role as Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire. He also faced felony charges of disorderly conduct in Chicago. As Smollett’s legal battles amplified, the 42-year-old’s opportunities in Hollywood diminished, culminating in a 150-day jail sentence in March 2022.
Jussie Smollett steps back into the spotlight
Now, as Smollett appeals his case to the Illinois Supreme Court, he’s returning to the spotlight as co-writer, director, and star of The Lost Holliday. The drama film premiered at the American Black Film Festival in June 2024 and will be released in AMC Theatres on September 27, 2024.
Smollett spoke with Extra about how he’s doing. “Life has been very kind, and I am being kind back to it,” he explained. “So I’m doing very well. I’m grateful. I have God and my ancestors guiding me.”
Starring Vivica A. Fox, The Lost Holliday follows her character, Cassandra Marshall, as she visits LA to plan the funeral of her estranged son, Damien Holliday (Jabari Redd). When Marshall arrives, she finds out that her late son’s husband, Jason Holliday (Jussie Smollett), has taken care of the memorial.
This isn’t Smollett’s first foray into writing and directing. In 2017, The Mighty Ducks star directed an episode of Empire‘s fourth season. Then, in 2021, he directed B-Boy Blues, a comedy-drama based on the 1994 black gay novel by James Earl Hardy. Smollett also pursued a music career before his untimely allegations. He released Sum of My Music, his debut R&B album, in 2018 through his own label, Music of Sound. The album reached No. 22 on the U.S. Heatseekers charts.
Where Jussie Smollett’s conviction stands
Now, as Smollett returns to Hollywood with The Lost Holliday, his fans and critics wonder what’s next. On September 17, reports NBC Chicago, Smollett’s attorney, Nenye Uche, appeared in Springfield, Illinois, to request a reversal of his client’s conviction from 2021. The Alien: Covenant star faced charges after faking a hate crime outside of his Streeterville apartment.
The details of Smollett’s appeal? Uche argues that a “previous agreement with the State’s Attorney’s office should have kept a trial from happening in the first place,” according to NBC Chicago. Smollett reportedly cooperated with Cook County State regarding community service and a $10,000 bond in exchange for the charges being dropped. “A deal’s a deal,” Uche stated in court. “Irrespective of how unpopular the defendant is in the public eye.”
Although Smollett did surrender his bond, the city of Chicago alleges that the controversial actor’s transgressions caused the city of Chicago over $130,000 in fines and restitution — much more than $10,000. When will Smollett receive a decision in his appeal? The Illinois Supreme Court justices said they will likely return with a decision within the next 3-4 months.
