Jussie Smollett Reaches Settlement with City of Chicago Over $130K Hate Crime Hoax Lawsuit

Jussie Smollett has reached a settlement with the City of Chicago, bringing an end to a years-long legal battle over the $130,000 the city spent investigating what turned out to be a staged hate crime hoax.

According to NBC, the agreement has been reached but is not yet finalized, with both parties stating this week that “additional time is needed” to complete the necessary documentation.

The city’s civil suit, filed in 2019, sought to recoup the cost of the extensive police investigation that followed Smollett’s false report. The former Empire actor claimed he was attacked in a racist and homophobic hate crime by two men shouting pro-Trump slogans—allegations that quickly unraveled under scrutiny.

Police later determined Smollett orchestrated the incident, paying brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo to carry out the staged assault. Smollett was arrested in February 2019 and indicted the following month. Although initial charges were dropped by Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx, a special prosecutor later filed new charges.

Smollett was found guilty in December 2021 on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for making false police reports. In March 2022, he was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probation, and ordered to pay over $120,000 in restitution plus a $25,000 fine.

Despite denying the accusations and filing a countersuit against the city, Smollett has now opted to settle the dispute. The exact terms of the settlement remain confidential for now.

This latest development appears to close the book on one of the most controversial celebrity legal cases in recent memory, though Smollett’s public image and career remain deeply impacted.