Jussie Smollett recently reflected on the scandal of his alleged staged attack that caused public outrage, right before the premiere of his new film titled The Lost Holiday. In a Zoom interview with PEOPLE, the actor recalled the darkest period of his career and life. That was when he was arrested on multiple charges of disorderly conduct and falsifying a police report. “At that time, I was completely numb,” Smollett shared with the magazine. “I didn’t know how to piece everything together. I genuinely couldn’t understand what was happening. And I couldn’t comprehend what people were truly thinking about me… What exactly did they think happened? I couldn’t make sense of it all.”
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Despite facing serious accusations and a wave of public backlash, the Empire star still maintains his innocence. He mentioned that the moment he was arrested was when he realized that everything was falling apart. “That was a pretty dark day because everything suddenly became clear to me. Many things tested my resilience, tested my mental strength, but the one thing I never lost was my sense of self. I never started thinking I was someone else. That never happened. Keep in mind, I was in my thirties when this happened. This wasn’t when I was young, like 16 or 20, when such events could deeply affect one’s sense of identity. I always held onto my belief in who I was.”
Despite numerous challenges, Jussie Smollett has tried to move forward. He added, “I faced my darkest days, but I never lost myself. There are things we cannot control, but what’s important is to stay true to who you are and not let criticism change who you become.”
At the premiere of The Lost Holiday in New York City, Smollett also spoke to TMZ about recent comments made by Lee Daniels, the director of Empire, regarding his case. Although details of those remarks are yet to be revealed, it’s evident that Smollett is gradually making his return to the industry and working to rebuild his public image.
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The scandal surrounding Jussie Smollett left a lasting impact on the public and interrupted his career for quite some time. However, with the release of The Lost Holiday, Smollett hopes to showcase his talent once again and regain the trust of his audience. In any circumstance, his story remains a powerful reminder of the value of resilience and self-belief during the most challenging times.
