Former star of Empire, Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to 150 days in prison after a jury found him guilty of lying to police about being the victim of a horrific homophobic attack. Smollett cried “I am innocent! I am not suicidal!’ as the jail term was read out.

Smollett, who is a 39-year-old out gay man, cast  a defiant figure as he sat and listened quietly to the judge who also fined him $145 000 in restitution and fines as well as 30 months of probation with the jail time starting directly after the courtroom appearance.

In 2019 he claimed 2 masked men put a noose around his neck and shouted homophobic slurs as well as some Trump related rhetoric. The story did not add up after investigation however and it turned out Smollett had allegedly paid two brothers $3500 to stage the attack order to advance his career.