Jurnee Smollett speaks out about brother Jussie’s staged attack scandal for the first time: ‘I believe my brother’

Birds of Prey actor has defended her brother and Empire star Jussie Smollett against allegations that he staged a hate crime against himself last year

Jurnee Smollett has addressed the scandal surrounding her brother and fellow actor Jussie Smollett who is accused of staging a hate crime against himself.

The Birds of Prey actor insisted on her brother’s innocence, saying “I love my brother and I believe my brother”.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about her role in the forthcoming HBO series Lovecraft Country, Smollett opened up about the event for the first time since it happened in January last year.

“It’s been f****ing painful, one of the most painful things my family’s ever experienced. To love someone as much as we love my brother, and to watch someone who you love go through something like this, that is so public, has been devastating,” she said.

Empire star Jussie Smollett was indicted on 16 counts related to lying to the police after allegedly faking his own hate crime in 2019. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and the charges were later dropped.

She continued, “I was already in a very dark space for a number of reasons, and I’ve tried to not let it make me pessimistic but everyone who knows me knows that I love my brother and I believe my brother.”

Jussie was subsequently removed from the sixth and final season of the popular Fox show.

Most recently in February, he pleaded not guilty to six new counts of disorderly conduct which alleged that he “planned and participated” in staging a hate crime against himself with the assistance of two accomplices.