Jussie Smollett’s Legal Drama with Chicago Sees Surprising Conclusion

The controversial saga of Jussie Smollett’s fake hate crime hoax has finally reached resolution – and people don’t think it’s even remotely close to fair. After six long years of legal battles with the city of Chicago, the disgraced “Empire” actor has quietly settled his case under undisclosed terms. No jail time, nothing.

At a glance:

• Jussie Smollett and Chicago have reached a settlement six years after his fake hate crime claim
• Chicago sued Smollett for $130,000 to recover costs from investigating his January 2019 hoax
• Smollett falsely claimed two white men wearing MAGA hats attacked him in a racist, homophobic assault
• Evidence revealed Smollett paid two Nigerian brothers to stage the attack
• The settlement terms remain undisclosed, with a status hearing scheduled for May 29

A Hoax Finally Settled

Jussie Smollett has reached an undisclosed settlement with the city of Chicago, ending a six-year legal battle that began when he falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. The settlement comes after Chicago sued the actor for $130,000 to recover costs incurred during the extensive police investigation into his fraudulent claims.

Both parties have informed the court they’ve reached an agreement but need additional time to finalize documentation. The resolution marks the end of a saga that began in January 2019 when Smollett claimed two white men wearing MAGA hats attacked him, poured bleach on him, and placed a noose around his neck while shouting “This is MAGA country!”

The MAGA Hate Crime That Never Happened

A Police investigation quickly unraveled Smollett’s elaborate hoax, revealing he had paid two Nigerian brothers, Ola and Abimbola Osundairo, $3,500 to stage the attack and make it look like conservatives had violently assaulted him. Evidence showed the brothers purchased supplies for the fake assault, including rope for the noose and red hats, all at Smollett’s direction.

NEW: Jussie Smollett reaches settlement with the city of Chicago 6 years after hoax MAGA racist attack pic.twitter.com/EldowE3aKH

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 1, 2025

Smollett was arrested in February 2019 and eventually indicted on multiple felony charges for filing false police reports. Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office controversially dropped all charges against Smollett in March 2019, sparking outrage and allegations of preferential treatment.

Smollett maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal despite testimony from the Osundairo brothers confirming he orchestrated the hoax. The actor continued to claim he was the victim of a real hate crime even after being sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months probation in December 2021 when found guilty on five counts of disorderly conduct.

Legal Twists and Final Resolution

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned Smollett’s conviction in November, citing prosecutorial issues and a prior non-prosecution agreement. The civil lawsuit with Chicago continued separately until this week’s settlement announcement, which allows both sides to avoid further legal proceedings.

Jussie Smollett and city of Chicago reach settlement in lawsuit over hate crime hoax https://t.co/BucYuwKHnj pic.twitter.com/RloZhX2ENz

— New York Post (@nypost) May 2, 2025

Chicago’s lawsuit against Smollett sought to recover the $130,000 in police overtime and resources wasted investigating his false claims. Smollett countersued the city, maintaining he was innocent of staging the hoax despite the mountain of evidence proving otherwise.

The settlement represents the final chapter in a controversy that inflamed political tensions and damaged the credibility of hate crime reporting. A status hearing has been scheduled for May 29 where final details of the settlement are expected to be formally presented to the court.

How is this fair? Shouldn’t this kind of crime come with a…punishment?