Jussie Smollett Settles Chicago Lawsuit with $50,000 Charity Donation, Proclaims Innocence

In a twist that could only unfold in the Windy City, Jussie Smollett has settled a contentious legal battle with Chicago by donating $50,000 to a local charity, sidestepping a lawsuit while steadfastly proclaiming his innocence. The former Empire star, whose 2019 claim of a racist and homophobic attack sparked a firestorm, saw his 2021 conviction overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court in November 2024. The city’s attempt to recoup investigation costs fizzled, but Smollett’s gesture to Building Brighter Futures (BBF) Center for the Arts keeps the spotlight on community upliftment.

Smollett didn’t stop there—he’s also funneling $10,000 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center, a nod to those navigating the rough waters of police-related trauma. In a statement brimming with resolve, he declared, "I am innocent in the eyes of God and our criminal justice system." The settlement, he insists, isn’t an admission of guilt but a strategic move to close a six-year saga that’s left his reputation bruised but not broken.

The city, for its part, calls the deal a "fair and conclusive resolution." Yet, Smollett’s narrative remains polarizing—his art and advocacy will march on, but public perception? That’s a tougher script to rewrite.