Jussie Smollett Suicidal? Taraji P. Henson Calls for Co-Star’s Release Due to THIS
Jussie Smollett found a new ally after his attorneys filed an emergency motion to postpone his sentence and grant him bond.
Judge James Linn officially charged Smollett with 150 days sentence at the Cook County jail on Thursday after the actor lied to the authorities that he became a target of racist and homophobic attacks. On top of that, he was ordered to settle more than $120,000 to the city of Chicago aside from the $25,000 fine.
Following the development, Smollett's co-star Taraji P. Henson came forward to support the "Empire" actor, asking the court to release him. She wrote on her recent Instagram post that the punishment Smollett received "does not fit the crime," even citing Emmett Till's murder.
"Emmett Till was brutally beat and ultimately murdered because of a lie, and none of the people involved with his demise spent one day in jail, even after Carolyn Bryant admitted that her claims were false. No one was hurt or killed during Jussie's ordeal," she added.
Henson also used the #FreeJussie hashtag as she suggested the court to put him on house arrest and probation instead.
The same hashtag was also used by the actor's sister, Jurnee Smollett. She said that Jussie is innocent before questioning why Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons five times the rate of White Americans.
Is Jussie Smollett Suicidal?
The recent calls for his release sparked rumblings about Smollett's suicidal tendencies. However, his attorneys filed the emergency injunction on Friday for more worrying reasons.
WGN TV reported that the actor's lawyers believe Smollett is in danger as he continues to receive online threats of physical harm. One of his siblings has also been getting racist and homophobic calls after the number was posted at the jail as an emergency contact.
His brother, Jocqui, disclosed that the actor entered a psych ward at Cook County jail despite having no risk of harming himself.
"So Jussie is currently in a psych ward at Cook County Jail. What's very concerning is there was a note attached to his paperwork today and put on the front of his jail cell saying that he's at risk of self-harm," he said on Instagram.
With that, they also asked the court to keep Smollett in segregated incarceration due to the impending negative effects of it on his mental and physical state. Now, prosecutors have been given five days to accept or reject the emergency motion.
READ MORE: Jussie Smollett Shocker: Actor Placed in Psych Ward After Hate Hoax?s
