*“Empire” star Jussie Smollett dodged a lifetime of being behind bars after criminal charges against him were dropped and his record expunged.
Smollett was accused of orchestrating a hate crime against himself in Chicago and filing a false police report about it. The entertainer maintains he had no involvement in staging the attack.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel slammed the controversial twist in the case, with Rahm noting that Smollett had been “let off scot-free.”
“If you want to say you’re innocent of the situation, you take your day in court,” said Johnson. “I would never hide behind a brokered deal in secrecy, period.”
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Now, Smollett’s future in Hollywood has been cast in doubt, and according to crisis public relations expert Eden Gillott, the dropped charges may not be enough to save his career, Forbes reports.
“In spite of this resolution, his reputation has been severely damaged,” said Gillott, president of Gillott Communications. “Until people believe he did not actually do this, a lot of production houses and networks will steer clear of him.”
Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyon, will not appear in the final two episodes of the current season of FOX’s hit music drama series “Empire.” The network said in a statement: “Jussie Smollett has always maintained his innocence and we are gratified that all charges against him have been dismissed.”
There are some who believe the scandal may actually boost Smollett’s career.
“He’s more famous now than ever before,” said Richard Levick, CEO of LEVICK communications. Levick advised Smollett lay low before staging a comeback. “Reputational rebound is possible but you have to give it the appropriate time.”
Smollett was indicted by a grand jury last month on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct and pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to the New York Times, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office dropped the charges after Smollett agreed to community service and the forfeiture of his $10,000 bond.
Prosecutor Joe Magatos told the publication that dropping the charges “didn’t exonerate him.”
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