Smollett fights for reputation, career

Outside the courtroom where former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett is fighting charges accusing him of lying to Chicago police about being the victim of an anti-gay, racist attack, his publicist has introduced a roster of supporters to the assembled TV cameras.

Renowned opera singer Lauren Michelle, who also appeared on “Empire,” spoke of how one of her best friends from high school has maintained his humanity despite the attacks on his character. Smollett’s pastor from New York, Damon Mack, said the person prosecutors are portraying in court is not “the Jussie I know.”

The daily turns at the microphone are part of a broader strategy underway since Smollett’s trial started at the Chicago courthouse roughly one week ago: trying to ensure the 39-year-old emerges from this scandal and legal troubles with his reputation and career intact, or at least having suffered as little damage as possible, whatever the outcome.

The charges against Smollett — six counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about the January 2019 attack — are low-level felonies and carry a possible sentence of three years in prison. Legal experts say if convicted he would most likely get probation and be ordered to perform community service.