“Empire” celebrity Jussie Smollett was indicted by a grand jury in Chicago on 16 felony counts after allegedly lying to authorities about becoming the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime.
Smollett was charged a month with felony disorderly behaviour because of its supposedly false report he left with Chicago authorities on Jan. 29, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Inside, he claimed he was attacked by two masked men who hurled racist and homophobic slurs.
The celebrity, 36, who’s black and homosexual, also explained his attackers poured what he thought was bleach him over and put a noose around his throat.
Smollett and his lawyers have denied the allegations against him.
