reaching a settlement with the City<\/a>\u00a0of Chicago in 2025, Smollett agreed to make a $50,000 charitable donation to have a lawsuit against him dismissed.<\/p>\nIn a lengthy statement to Fox News Digital at the time, Smollett said, \u201cOver 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, it should be clear. \u2026 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
In April 2019, the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Smollett in an attempt to recoup the costs of police investigating the alleged attack. The actor told Fox News Digital \u201cdespite what happened there politically,\u201d he still has a place in his heart for the city.<\/p>\n50 Cent mocked Jussie Smollett\u2019s return to the stage at Harlem Pride\u2019s \u201c17 Shades of Pride.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cTherefore, making a donation to benefit\u00a0Chicago communities\u00a0that are too often neglected by those in power will always be something I support,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve made a $50,000 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\u2019m comforted that there will be at least one winner from this experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smollett said that even though the\u00a0criminal charges<\/a>\u00a0were overturned, and the civil case has been dismissed, \u201cI\u2019m aware that it will not change everyone\u2019s 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\u00a0 criminal justice system<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cI will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear and defending my integrity and family name with the truth,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
Smollett\u2019s return to the stage came during a busy Pride weekend in New York City, which also saw thousands of people\u2014including New York City congressional candidate\u00a0Brad Lander\u2014take part in the NYC Pride Parade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fox News Digital\u2019s Lauryn Overhultz, Tracy Wright and Emily Trainham contributed to this post.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n