Wendy Williams Says Jussie Smollett Is ‘Done’
Jussie Smollett was a known soap opera actor. In Jan. 2019, he became more well-known because he said he was viciously attacked in a racist and homophobic hate crime. Investigators later said his story was false. Here’s what Wendy Williams had to say about the Empire actor.
Wendy Williams says Jussie Smollett has begun ‘prison life’
According to Fox News, Williams discussed Smollett’s Feb. 2020 indictment for disorderly conduct on the “Hot Topics” segment of her show on Feb. 11. “His prison life has already started. He’ll never work again. Nobody cares about him. If I saw him walking down the street I’d cross to the other side.”
She added “I mean, the man will never work again. Whoever hires him is going to be protested with the pickets outside. Just leave it alone, he’s done.”
Williams does not feel the city of Chicago should dwell on this issue too much. She feels the city has more pressing issues to address, like education and gang violence. She’d prefer Chicago “leave it alone,” referring to the Smollett case.
This echoes what she said about Smollett in March 2019. Inquisitr reports she said “Jussie will be judged for the rest of his life…even if he does get acting roles, they’re probably not going to be [in] productions. They’re just going to throw him in stuff that he’ll be forced to take because he’ll need money.”
Wendy Williams once had kind words for Jussie Smollett
This is somewhat of a change in tone from what Williams had said about Smollett earlier in March 2019. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smollett went on Williams’ show to promote his R&B album, the punningly-titled Sum of My Music. Williams liked how “casual” he was about his personal life.
Williams described Smollett as quote both “cute as a doll” and “smart.” She said he would appear to have his life in order, save for the charges brought against him by the police. She said despite Smollett’s statements to the contrary, she thought he was guilty.
Williams said she viewed him as guilty from the start and never felt unsure of her position. She still wonders why anyone would fake a hate crime. She felt Smollett’s finances were a motivating factor.
What Wendy Williams wants to happen next
Williams said “What’s shocking to me is that I believe he was intensely insecure about his role on Empire. I do believe he was probably asking for more money.” Williams was referring to Smollett’s salary for Empire. Smollett was paid around $125,000 per episode, compared to his co-star, Terrence Howard, who was paid around $250,000 per episode.
Williams continued “Do I think he’s guilty, do I think he’s innocent? Here’s what I think — I want justice to be served.” She also called the Smollett case “the story that won’t stop.”
The Smollett case has been the subject of public fascination for months now. No one knows quite how it will play out from here. What we do know is that Williams will probably keep informing us of her opinions on any upcoming developments in the case.
Also see: Wendy Williams: Taylor Swift Proves ‘Life in General’ Is Getting Worse
