Jussie Smollett makes first public appearance since appeal thrown out in court

Actor Jussie Smollett was out in public in Los Angeles Friday, hours after his appeal was rejected in Chicago.

The Cook County Appellate Court upheld Smollett’s conviction on five counts of felony disorderly conduct last December. At the time, he was also acquitted on a sixth charge for filing a false police report. The Empire actor claimed two men assaulted him, poured bleach on him, and tied a noose around his neck, and he did not renege his allegations throughout his trial. He went as far as appealing the ruling in March of this year.

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Smollett appeared sullen as he walked around L.A. with sunglasses, a hat, and a face mask. His sisters Jazz and Jurnee were with him when the Daily Mail captured him in various photographs.

Judge James Linn initially sentenced Smollett to jail for 150 days in addition to $145,126 in restitution and fines. However, in March of 2022, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office announced the actor would be undergoing a mental health assessment six days into his prison sentence. Smollett told his sentencing judge, “I am not suicidal,” and he said it several times, prompting the assessment and a brief stint in a psychiatric facility.

From there, the actor would also spend some time in a rehabilitation facility. Now that his appeal has been overturned, Smollett is likely to have to finish his sentence.

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Smollett was cast in Empire for five seasons. Amid his legal troubles, the show went on and filmed its series finale without him in 2020. The actor went on to direct and produce the 2021 film B-Boy Blues and release his own song surrounding his ordeal.

Two men involved in Smollett’s alleged attack claim that he hired them to stage it. The men claimed they simply gave him a noogie and poured bleach on his shirt.