Jussie Smollett’s career has ‘hit rock bottom’ despite maintaining her innocence over hate crime hoax: expert

Almost six years after the alleged staging a racist and homophobic attack about himself and two years later found guilty of five misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, Jussie Smollett seems more determined than ever to fight for his truth and rebuild his career in Hollywood.

However, according to experts, the 42-year-old actor – who recently returned to the big screen with his new film ‘The Lost Holliday’ – has not only hit rock bottom as far as his professional career is concerned, Smollett has also reached a new level of what makes a lawyer ‘delusional’. ‘ mentioned in his attempt to maintain his innocence.

“He’s already hit the bottom, it’s going to take a while before he can push off the floor and actually swim back to the surface,” Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital. “That said, you can give up and float to the top, or you can swim against the current back to the top. However, your career will only get a boost in either of those two scenarios.”

WATCH ‘JUSSIE SMOLLETT: ANATOMY OF A HOAX’

Jussie Smollett was convicted in 2021 of five counts of disorderly conduct. (The Everett Collection/Getty Images)

“It is possible (Smollett could always be seen as a liar),” Eldridge added. “The real question is whether his career will recover despite this.”

A representative for Smollett did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

“But his idea of ​​going ahead and ‘fighting for the truth’ – it seems delusional to me.”

– Michigan attorney Jamie White, of White Law PLLC

In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, Smollett maintained his innocence and said he will continue to do this no matter the cost.

“I want to have all these things in my life, and I don’t want to have a felony on my record for something I didn’t do,” Smollett told the outlet. “That’s what we’re fighting for. I know at first glance it probably seems like he’s not just serving the time, why doesn’t he just let this go? It would be easier if I actually did this.” If I said I did it, I wouldn’t have spent $3 million of my own money.”

Jussie maintained his innocence throughout the trial, sentencing and appeal. (Amy Sussman)

“I have been holding on not to my truth but to the truth the entire time, almost six years,” he added. “I haven’t changed my story. I haven’t changed anything I’ve ever said. I stand by everything I’ve ever said. Everyone else in the situation, every person, has changed their story countless times.”

There’s one problem, says Gene Roy, retired chief of detectives for the Chicago Police Department: His story “was false from the start.”

“Jusse is absolutely right when he claims his story has never changed,” Roy told Fox News Digital. “But the problem is that his story was false from the beginning. His story didn’t change, but the careful investigation by the Chicago Police Department uncovered the facts. And it’s the facts that matter.”

Smollett said he hasn’t changed his story since 2019. (Nuccio DiNuzzo)

“Things like this can be overcome – there is a long list of Hollywood actors who have had run-ins with the law, resolved them and moved on with their lives and returned to films,” said White’s attorney Jamie White Law of Michigan. PLLC, added. “But his idea of ​​going ahead and ‘fighting for the truth’ – it seems delusional to me.”

In January 2019, the “Empire” actor reported to Chicago police that he had been attacked by two men wearing balaclavas. Smollett, an openly gay black man, was subsequently accused of orchestrating the attack on himself and lying to police about it. An investigation was opened and Smollett was eventually arrested.

The charges against him were dropped and refiled a year later, and he was convicted in 2021 of five misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct.

JUSSIE SMOLLETT RELEASED AFTER SIX DAYS IN PRISON

He was convicted to 150 days in jail on March 10, 2022. The actor was also sentenced to 30 months’ probation, restitution to the city of Chicago in the amount of $120,106, and a $25,000 fine.

In March 2023, Smollett’s legal team filed a notice of appeal. The case is currently under review by the Illinois State Court.

“I really don’t think there’s much more Jesse can do in his fight for the truth,” Roy said. “At this time, the decision as to his guilt or innocence rests in the hands of the Illinois Supreme Court.”

As for regaining public trust and rebuilding his career, this may not be in the cards for Smollett, says Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author of “Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days.”

Smollett filed an appeal in 2023. (Nuccio DiNuzzo)

“In the interview with ET, Smollett says ‘my truth.’ Well, ‘my truth’ isn’t always the actual truth, and that’s what Jussie still hasn’t accepted,” Alpert told Fox News Digital. “Every time a celebrity or politician is given a second chance by fans or the public, this is usually after a confession of wrongdoing, penance and an apology. We saw none of this with Smollett, just resistance.”

“If Smollett had admitted guilt early on and paid the price, in my opinion he would have a better chance of being forgiven by the public and having a successful acting career where he is respected,” Alpert continued. “As bad as the crime and the lie were, the public is forgiving and generally happy to see people get better. Whether it’s overcoming a drug addiction, an affair, or, in Jussie’s case, an elaborate fake scheme to make certain people look bad simply based on the color of their skin and their political beliefs.”

“However, Jussie has not admitted any guilt and apologized,” he added. “If Smollett had taken a page from Hugh Grant or Will Smith’s playbook and admitted guilt early on, he might have a better chance of being forgiven by the public and having a successful acting career in which he is respected.”

Lauryn Overhultz, Tracy Wright and Larry Fink of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.

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