Jussie Smollett donates $50K to Chicago youth arts center as part of settlement with city, TMZ reports

Jussie Smollett settlement includes charitable donation, TMZ reports

We're learning new details about Jussie Smollett's settlement with the city of Chicago.

CHICAGO - Jussie Smollett has reportedly donated $50,000 to a local youth arts center as part of a settlement with the city of Chicago, closing the chapter on a years-long civil case tied to his controversial 2019 arrest.

What we know:

The city sued Smollett in 2019, seeking approximately $130,000 to cover the costs of the police investigation into what it said was a staged racist and homophobic attack.

According to TMZ, Smollett has agreed to donate $50,000 to the Building Better Futures Center for the Arts, a local organization that supports underprivileged youth in Chicago through programs focused on mental health, music, acting, and the arts.

Smollett was originally convicted on charges that he lied to police about the 2019 incident in downtown Chicago. The Illinois Supreme Court overturned that conviction last year.

Late Thursday, the Building Better Futures Center for the Arts shared a statement on Smollett's donation: 

"We are deeply grateful to Mr. Smollett for the generous $50,000 donation he made to Building Brighter Futures Center For The Arts," said CEO Dr. Pamela Blackman. "This remarkable gift is more than a contribution. It’s a powerful investment in our youth during a very critical time in the world. This donation strengthens our ability to provide access to high quality education assistance, career training, mentorship, and creative space for the next generation of Chicago changemakers. We believe the arts are not a luxury, but a lifeline. They provide a means of expression and healing for our children and their families. Through the arts, we can transform our communities. On behalf of our entire team, our board of directors, our students, families, and the communities we serve, I extend my heartfelt thanks. Together we are shaping futures for brighter days!"

The backstory:

In 2019, Smollett claimed two men wearing red MAGA hats jumped him outside his downtown apartment building and made racist, homophobic comments. He was accused of staging a hoax but Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx dropped the charges against him in exchange for a fine and community service.

Following that, special prosecutor Dan Webb was brought in to investigate. Smollett was put on trial and found guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail—six of which he served before he was freed pending appeal—30 months of probation and ordered to pay about $130,000 in restitution.

Actor Jussie Smollett speaks to Judge James Linn after his sentence is read on March 10, 2022, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Smollett’s attorney said his client was the victim of double jeopardy.

In November, the state Supreme Court ruled 5-0 to reverse the conviction. A 32-page court document explained the court's decision.

"We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and believed it to be unjust," Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in the decision. "Nevertheless, what would be more unjust than the resolution of any one criminal case would be a holding from this court that the state was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied."

What's next:

TMZ reports Smollett and the city of Chicago have already signed off on the settlement and that he made the donation. However, a judge still has to make the deal official.

What they're saying:

On Friday, Smollett released a statement about the settlement. Read it below:

Over six years ago, after it was reported I had been jumped, City officials in Chicago set out to convince the public that I willfully set an assault against myself. This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear. These officials wanted my money and wanted my confession for something I did not do. Today, it should be clear....They have received neither.

The decision to settle the civil lawsuit was not the most difficult one to make. After repeatedly refusing to pay the City, I was presented with an opportunity to make a charitable donation in exchange for the case being dismissed. Despite what happened there politically, Chicago was my home for over 5 years and the people became my family. Therefore, making a donation to benefit Chicago communities that are too often neglected by those in power will always be something I support. I've made a $50,000.00 donation to Building Brighter Futures (BBF) Center for the Arts, a local nonprofit doing incredible work nurturing self-expression, creativity and exploration of the arts for Chicago youth. This organization was of my choosing and I'm comforted that there will be at least one winner from this experience.

Though I was exonerated by the Illinois Supreme Court in a unanimous decision and the civil case is now dismissed, I'm aware that it will not change everyone's mind about me or the attack I experienced. However, despite arduous and expensive attempts to punish me, I am innocent both in the eyes of God and of our criminal justice system. What I have to do now is move forward. I will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear and defending my integrity and family name with the truth.

Lastly, I'm grateful to have had the resources to defend myself. So many do not. They are backed into corners to take deals or confess to crimes they did not actually commit. In their honor, I am donating an additional $10,000.00 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center who provides resources to communities healing from the violence of the Chicago Police Department. To anyone who has had to prove they have in fact been violated, you know how difficult this can be to navigate. I stand with and for you. To everyone who has supported me, thank you. Your prayers and belief in me mean more than words can properly express. I will never take it lightly and will never forget. Onward.

With Love & Respect,

Jussie Smollet