Jussie Smollett talks to the media in 2019 before leaving the court in Cook County, Ill. The actor will face sentencing on Thursday. Paul Beaty/AP hide caption
Empire Empire
Stories About
Empire
Jussie Smollett leaves a Chicago courthouse Tuesday, shortly after prosecutors dropped all charges against him. The move was met with anger from local authorities and confusion from plenty of onlookers. Paul Beaty/AP hide caption
Chicago's top prosecutor, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, recused herself from the investigation before Empire actor Jussie Smollett was charged. M. Spencer Green/AP hide caption
Jussie Smollett, seen earlier this month outside a courthouse in Chicago, has stood in the eye of a squall of controversy since filing his police report in late January. Amid all the very public tumult, things have likely gotten rather confusing for the average news-watcher. Matt Marton/AP hide caption
Jussie Smollett addresses the media after appearing in a Chicago courtroom on Tuesday. The Empire actor reasserted his innocence after prosecutors dropped the charges against him, but Chicago police are upset with the decision. Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images hide caption
Actor Jussie Smollett arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court Building for his hearing Thursday in Chicago. Matt Marton/AP hide caption
Empire actor Jussie Smollett leaves Cook County jail following his release in Chicago last month. Kamil Krzaczynski/AP hide caption
Empire actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Cook County Jail in Chicago Thursday after posting bond. On Friday, the show's producers announced that they would be removing his character from the final episodes of this season. Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images hide caption
Jussie Smollett leaves the Cook County Jail following his release Thursday in Chicago. Smollett was charged with filling a false police report after he said he was attacked by two men who shouted racist and anti-gay slurs. Kamil Krzaczynski/AP hide caption
Jussie Smollett 'Took Advantage Of The Pain And Anger Of Racism,' Police Say
Actor and singer Jussie Smollett, seen at an Empire event in 2016, has been charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report about being the victim of a bias-motivated attack. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP hide caption
Jussie Smollett speaks last month at an awards ceremony held in Los Angeles by Children's Defense Fund California. Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images hide caption
Police Say 'Empire' Actor Jussie Smollett Attacked In Possible Hate Crime
Viola Davis accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for How to Get Away With Murder at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 20. Alex Berliner/Invision for the Television Academy/AP hide caption
Taraji P. Henson's Cookie refuses to be marginalized or dismissed. Chuck Hodes/FOX hide caption