On Dec. 6, former Empire actor Jussie Smollett testified in his own defense that he paid $3,500 to a friend for a fitness plan for him, not to arrange a fake hate-crime beating on himself, The Chicago Tribune reported.
The friend, Abimbola Osundario, testified last week that Smollett texted in late January 2019 that he needed help "on the low" and ultimately arranged a phony beating. Testifying in his own defense, however, Smollett told jurors in his criminal trial that the text referenced some herbal steroids he wanted Osudairo to pick up for him during an upcoming trip to Nigeria.
Smollett met Osundairo at a club during the show's fourth season. The two men then used cocaine and weed, and went to a bathhouse in Boystown together—where they did more drugs and made out, Smollett said. During his testimony, Osundairo denied he and Smollett had ever dated, and said he did not think there was sexual tension between the two men. Defense attorneys have also tried to portray Osundairo's older brother, Olabinjo, as a homophobe.
The Tribune noted that Smollett's testimony could signal an attempt by the defense to suggest the brothers carried out the attack for reasons other than the alleged attempt by the actor to fake it and get the attention of leaders of his television show.
The full article is at www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-jussie-smollett-trial-day-5-20211206-fthf45lwy5hwlecx2gprv6pgta-story.html .
