Jussie Smollett reflects on the ‘darkest day’ during the hate crime hoax

Jussie Smollett reflects on his “darkest day” – the day of his arrest – five years after the crime.

“That was a pretty dark day because that’s when I realized what was happening,” he said in an interview with People published Saturday.

“Many things have tested my strength, many things have tested my mental abilities, but the one thing I have never lost – I have never started to think that I am something I am not.” That’s the only thing that didn’t happen.”

Smollett, 42, was arrested on alleged hate crime charges after telling Chicago police that he was attacked by two masked men late on the evening of January 29, 2019.

The actor, a gay black man, claimed they shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him, put a noose around his neck and doused him with bleach.

In March 2019, he was charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct and falsifying a police report, where he pleaded not guilty. All charges were eventually dropped.

However, after further investigation, he was accused of six counts of lying to police in 2020.

In December 2021, he was found guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct for making false reports. He was sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and more than $120,000 in restitution for costs incurred by Chicago police in handling his case.

He was released on bail six days after his conviction. His appeal is still pending.

“I was numb,” Smollett further recalled to People about his arrest and the events that would unfold. “I didn’t know how to connect the dots. I really didn’t know.”

“I couldn’t understand what was going on and I couldn’t understand what people were actually thinking… What exactly did they think happened? I couldn’t put two and two together.”

The former “Empire” star maintains his innocence and told People “he feels like he’s being used as a political football… by both sides.”

Before his sentencing in 2022, he reportedly told his legal team that he felt he was a victim of systemic racism in the justice system.

“My views haven’t changed,” he confirmed to People. “My heart hasn’t changed at all.”

“I am the same man I was and always will be. If a lot of people are listening to you, you should say something worth hearing.”

As he pushes for an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, Smollett said he is focused on moving forward with his life.

“I am very aware of my privilege in this situation. So there’s a certain point where I just can’t take the pain anymore,” he said.

“So I’m blessed to continue making films, making music and doing the things that God has called me here to do.”