*Jussie Smollett’s eldest brother has come to the defense of the “Empire” star in a lengthy op-ed for BET titled, “What If Jussie Is Telling The Truth?”
Jojo Smollett, 41, claims his baby bro suffers from “night terrors” following the racially charged hate crime he was accused of staging, Page Six reports.
In the piece, he calls his brother an “exceptional individual” and “unusually good, soulful and spiritual man.” He also describes accusations that Jussie staged the attack in January as “ludicrous.”
Smollett claims in January he was jumped by two mask-wearing males in Chicago who yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him, doused him with bleach and tossed a noose around his neck. He has since denied all accusations that he orchestrated the attack.
Jojo’s says his brother’s “life has been turned upside down” from “unrelenting attacks to his character and reputation.”
“Many appeared to roast him, demean him, and laugh at a traumatic and painful ordeal,” Jojo wrote.
“Jussie is as strong as iron, but following an attack like this, there is a normal and natural amount of post trauma …“I have literally seen him violently awakening from night terrors, following the assault. Some of my siblings, as well as Jussie’s partner and closest friends, have seen similar things.”
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For the first time, Jussie Smollett’s older brother speaks out in an exclusive essay for BET.https://t.co/1f5QUdMgZS
— BET (@BET) April 20, 2019
Jojo also made mention of his brother’s “advancing career” and “business savvy mind.”
“To suggest that he staged his own attack to boost a sagging career is ludicrous,” he wrote.
“He wouldn’t need to roll around on the icy ground of a Chicago street.”
He added: “My brother takes serious what he represents,” Jojo wrote of the actor, who is also black and gay.
JoJo believes Jussie has been “convicted … in the court of public opinion” despite the “weak” case being dropped.
“To define this experience as unjust would be an understatement,” Jojo said, admitting Jussie “finds his livelihood in jeopardy.”
“I am definitely not asking you to feel sorry for my brother. He would never allow that,” he insisted.
“I am simply hoping there are some conscious-minded people out there who, instead of carelessly victim blaming and shaming, want to loudly ask the simple question: ‘What if Jussie is telling the truth?’”
During their investigation, Chicago police concluded that Smollett hired two Nigerian-American brothers to carry out the alleged beating.
The charges were ultimately dropped against the singer/actor but the city of Chicago has filed a civil complaint against Jussie for his refusal to reimburse $130,000 in overtime pay to officers who investigated the case.
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