Jussie Smollett’s Attorney Suggests Osundairo Brothers Wore White Makeup During Attack

Jussie+Smollett+Jessie+Smollett+Returns+Court+TuH9u-BqBM1l
Actor Jussie Smollett arrives at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Smollett stands accused of arranging a homophobic, racist attack against himself in an attempt to raise his profile because he was dissatisfied with his salary on the Fox television drama “Empire.”
(Source: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images North America)

*Jussie Smollett’s attorney has offered an explanation as to why the “Empire” star alleged the two men who attacked him in late January were white males.

Tina Glandian told “Today’s” Savannah Guthrie on Thursday that Smollett believed the two masked men were white because they were possibly wearing white makeup to disguise themselves. The singer previously told police he could make out they had “pale or white skin” around their eyes.

Investigators believe Smollett hired Nigerian-American brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo to help him stage the hate crime but the actor has maintained his innocence. All 16 felony charges against him were dropped on Tuesday.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: R. Kelly Accuser (Lanita Carter) Speaks Publicly for First Time About Alleged Sexual Assault

Jussie+Smollett+Jessie+Smollett+Returns+Court+2YZfrW-Ts54l
Actor Jussie Smollett (R) and attorney Tina Glandian walk in Leighton Criminal Courthouse for his court appearance on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Smollett stands accused of arranging a homophobic, racist attack against himself in an attempt to raise his profile because he was dissatisfied with his salary on the Fox television drama “Empire.”
(Source: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images North America)

Glandian noted that when Smollett was told by police his attackers were the Osundairo brothers, he was shocked, as he knew both from the “Empire” set and one of them served as his personal trainer.

“He did tell police that from what he saw, he thought it was white or pale skin, that’s what he initially said,” Glandian said before adding, “Obviously, you can disguise that. You can put makeup on.”

She then cited a 2016 YouTube video of Abel Osundairo dressed up as the Joker with white makeup on his face.

“There’s a video, it took me all of five minutes when I was looking into the brothers, to of one of the brothers in whiteface doing the Joker monologue,” Glandian explained.

When asked if Smollett wants the brothers arrested for their role in his assault, Glandian said the actor wants to “move on.”

“I think in light of what he’s been through the last two months, he really, just you know, he’s told me numerous times, ‘I don’t even care what happened, I want to move on,'” Glandian told Guthrie.

“What that attack was pales in comparison to the attack on him by the mayor, by the CPD, by the press, by the public,” she shared.

“What he’s been through after the fact has really been a much harsher attack than what he endured that night.”

Ola and Abel Osundairo - buying items used for jussie attack
Ola and Abel Osundairo seen allegedly buying items used for Jussie Smollett attack (Photo: CBS)

Glandian also addressed Trump’s announcement that there will be a federal investigation into why Smollett’s charges were dropped, noting that she nor her client are concerned about it because “to my knowledge, nothing improper was done.”

She then addressed reports of Smollett’s friends or family members having secret discussions with state attorney Kim Foxx, who recused herself from the case.

“No, the discussions [we had] were strictly with the prosecutors who were actually reviewing the case.”

Glandian also denied Smollett being behind the threatening, homophobic and racist letters reportedly sent to the “Empire” set. “He had nothing to do with the letter,” she said.

Finally, Glandian discussed her client’s decision to forfeit his $10,000 bond and perform community service as part of his deal.

“There were no conditions and obviously there was no plea, there was no agreement in place,” Glandian said of Smollett’s charges being dropped. “[The prosecution wanted Smollett] to forfeit the bond and that’s something we discussed with him and he initially struggled with because he didn’t want the perception to be that he had done anything wrong. But at the end of the day, forfeiting $10,000 versus putting your life on hold for a year is a small price to pay.”

 

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

NFL
DHL plane
Wu-Tang Clan (Bob Berg-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
Karla Sofía Gascón - screenshot
Beyonce (Kevin Mazur-WireImage-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Wendy Williams in 2019
Wicked (Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande) - via Universal
Melba Moore (wearing white)
Barack Obama (Scott Olson-Getty Images)
Cherelle Parker - screenshot
Read More
Aaron Pierre - screenshot
Read More
George W. Bush - Donald Trump (Getty)
Read More
WICKED: PART 1
Read More
Jimmy Butler & Kaitlin Nowak - screenshot
Read More
Kanye West and Bianca Censori on Grammy Red Carpet - screenshot
Read More
Damon Wayans
Read More
Otis Williams (Stefan Brending via Creative Commons)
Read More
Denzel Washington - Gladiator II
Read More
“Carl Weber’s The Family Business: New Orleans”
Read More

POPULAR

NFL
NFL Sparks Outrage with 'Black National Anthem' Performance at Super Bowl 59
DHL plane
DHL Opens Tuition-Free Trade School in Mobile, AL to Empower the Next Generation in Logistics
Wu-Tang Clan (Bob Berg-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Wu-Tang Clan Returns with New Project 'Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman'
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
NFL Commissioner Reaffirms Commitment to Diversity in Amid DEI Rollbacks
Karla Sofía Gascón - screenshot
Netflix Distances Itself From 'Emilia Pérez' Star Karla Sofía Gascón Amid Islamophobic and Racist Backlash
Beyonce (Kevin Mazur-WireImage-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Tour to Take A Pass on Nashville (the Capitol of Country Music)
Wendy Williams in 2019
Wendy Williams Denies Dementia, Defends Health in Legal Dispute | Video
Wicked (Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande) - via Universal
Cynthia Erivo Opens up About Personal Struggles Echoing Elphaba's Journey in 'Wicked'
Melba Moore (wearing white)
EUR Exclusive Commentary by Melba Moore: The Healing Power of Music
1 2 3 8,544