Actor Jussie Smollett to pay $50,000 to Chicago charity

Jussie Smollett, a well-known actor, has recently agreed to pay $50,000 to a charity located in Chicago. This decision comes as a resolution to a lawsuit that the city had filed against him due to allegations of lying about a hate crime. Initially, the Chicago police had sought to have Smollett pay $130,000 to cover the costs associated with the investigation into his claims. However, on Thursday, the law department of Chicago confirmed that instead of paying the city, Smollett will be donating the money to a charity called Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts. This organization is dedicated to supporting underprivileged youth in Chicago. Back in 2019, Smollett reported that he was the victim of a violent attack that was both racist and homophobic in nature. He claimed that two men assaulted him, shouted racial slurs, poured a chemical substance on him, and placed a noose around his neck while he was walking near his apartment in Chicago. At that time, there was a significant outpouring of support for Smollett, with many celebrities publicly condemning the violence he experienced and expressing their solidarity with him. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Smollett was accused of fabricating the entire incident and subsequently charged with lying to the police. He faced accusations of sending a racist letter to himself and paying two brothers $3,500 to stage the attack. In 2021, Smollett was found guilty of these charges, but last year, his conviction was overturned. A spokesperson for the law department stated, 'The City believes this settlement provides a fair, constructive, and conclusive resolution, allowing all the parties to close this six-year-old chapter and move forward. ' Smollett, who identifies as both black and gay, has consistently maintained that the attack was not a hoax.