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class="styl_ntaer__ZKkl3" data-activy-map="social-share-lks-article-top" data-ttid="social-share-menu"><li data-ttid="social-share-facebook" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_facebook__bOW_X"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-facebook"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-twter" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_twter__ww7sF"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-ptert" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_ptert__CaMm1"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-ptert"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-email" class="styl_em__b5A78"><a href="mailto:?subject=Defense rts Jsie Smollett trial; actor blasts attackers as 'liars'& target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-email"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-py" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_py__RACZ3"><button type="button" class="styl_button__b3sx_"><span class="in in-lk"></span></button><div class="styl_pyTooltip__Ut_t1"><span class="in in-alt-check"></span></div></li><li data-ttid="social-share-sms" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_sms__Vohh6"><a href="sms:?&body=Defense rts Jsie Smollett trial; actor blasts attackers as 'liars' via nbews - target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-sms"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-prt" class="styl_prt__cw6Gn"><button type="button" class="styl_button__b3sx_"><span class="in in-share-prt styl_in__P3XZT"></span><span class="styl_text___8iNX">Prt</span></button></li><li data-ttid="social-share-save" class="styl_save__ILVuj"></li></ul></div><div class="article-body__date-source"><time class="relative z-1" dateTime="2021-12-07T19:26:49.414Z" ntent="2021-12-07T19:26:49.414Z">Dec. 7, 2021, 7:26 PM UTC</time></div><div class="article-le-byle" data-activy-map="le-byle-article-top">By <span class="byle-name">Samira Pkar</span> and <span class="byle-name"><a href=">Erik Ortiz</a></span></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">CHICAGO — Actor Jsie Smollett's fense team rted s se Tuday after he <a href=" target="_blank">returned to the stand</a> his crimal trial, sparrg wh prosecutors over the sequence of events 2019, when he says he was the victim of a hate crime attack, and blastg the ttimony of the two brothers volved the cint as "liars."</p><p class="">After more than a week of wns ttimony, the trial of Smollett, the once-risg star of the televisn show "Empire," is expected to ntue wh closg arguments Wednday.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">Smollett, 39, <a href=">is charged wh six unts of felony disorrly nduct</a>; prosecutors say he ma a false police report about the alleged attack. The se hg on whose narrative the jury term is more credible: that of Smollett, who ni havg mastermd an attack on himself to ga public sympathy and <a href=" target="_blank">raise his profile</a>, as prosecutors allege, or that of brothers Abimbola and Olabgo Osundairo, who mata that Smollett paid them to stage the attack.</p><p class="">Smollett, who is Black and gay, laid out what he says occurred early Jan. 29, 2019, as he was walkg home downtown Chigo after havg gotten food. He ttified this week that he heard someone yell "Empire" and "MAGA untry," a reference to former Print <a href=" target="_blank">Donald Tmp's mpaign slogan, "Make Ameri Great Aga,"</a> as well as racist and homophobic remarks.</p><p class="">Smollett said that he turned around and rpond g an expletive and that he was punched his left eye. Smollett, who is 5 feet, 11 ch tall, said he tried to fight back, ttifyg that the person who attacked him was bigger. He also said he saw a send assailant.</p><p class="">"It felt like somethg out of 'Looney Tun' adventur. It felt like someone massive g up to me. Not enough time to thk," Smollett said. "This person felt signifintly larger than me. Drsed dark cloth. A ski mask."</p><sectn class="le-vio le-vio---body"><div class="le-vio__background"><div class="le-vio__player"><div class="vioPlayer styl_vioPlayer__bL8AJ styl_adNotPlayg__Q51_C styl_alignDktopBottom__4cHaO styl_alignMobileBottom__bhgkQ" data-ttid="vio-player"><div class="vioSlate"><a href=" class="allowClicksOnPreview"><picture class=""><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet="><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet="><img loadg="lazy" src=" height="1080" width="1920"/></picture></a><div class="playButtonOuter absolute absolute-fill w100 dn-prt"><div class="absolute absolute-fill w100 df ems-center ems-center-m jtify-center jtify-center-m"><div class="play le-vio__play-button"><svg class="play--in" xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 15 15" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid" style="max-width:30px"><path d="M0 0v15l15-7.41z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div id="128055365783"></div></div></div></div><div class="le-vio__"><h2 class="le-vio__tle"><a href=">Jsie Smollett ttifi his own fense</a></h2><span class="le-vio__tail"><span>Dec. 7, 2021</span><span>01:23</span></span><div class="styl_share__n3Syu le-vio__share dn-prt"><div class="styl_shareExpanr__hVk8d le-vio__share-expanr styl_hoverEffect___Dj4s"><span class="styl_shareDot__9pfRZ le-vio__share-dot"></span><svg class="styl_shareClose__6BZxR le-vio__share-close" viewBox="0 0 15 15"><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="0" y2="15"></le><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="15" y2="0"></le></svg></div><div class="styl_shareList___M8wC le-vio__share-list"><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-facebook styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-twter styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="mailto:?subject=Jsie Smollett ttifi his own fense& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-email styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a></div></div></div></sectn><p class="">Unr cross-examatn, Smollett said he ially refed to give Chigo police his cellphone for their vtigatn bee he wanted his privacy. Asked by special prosecutor Dan Webb whether he was ncerned that the phone would show several lls to Abimbola Osundairo, Smollett said no.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">Smollett ttified that he first met Abimbola Osundairo 2017 at a club, where he learned that Osundairo also worked on the "Empire" set. He said they did dgs together and went to a bathhoe, where they "ma out." He said they later did more dgs and participated sex acts together.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_small__5hUB_"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Image: Abimbola Osundairo" height="1667" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Abimbola Osundairo at the Leighton Crimal Courthoe Chigo after a lunch break the trial of actor Jsie Smollett on Dec. 1. </span><span class="ptn__source">Charl Rex Arbogast / AP</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Abimbola Osundairo ttified last week that he and Smollett did not have a sexual relatnship.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><p class="">Before the staged attack, Osundairo said, Smollett sent him a text msage about needg to talk secretly "on the low." He said that durg the nversatn, Smollett brought up orchtratg a planned asslt. Smollett said the text msage was reference to an illegal steroid that Osundairo had told him he uld get om Nigeria.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><p class="">Abimbola and Olabgo Osundairo, who are Black, also ttified last week that Smollett stcted them to yell "this is MAGA untry" durg the asslt.</p><p class="">Smollett reerated Tuday: "They're liars. They also said I had somethg to do wh , and I didn't."</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">Defense attorneys have suggted that the Osundairo brothers acced Smollett of stagg the hoax bee they disliked him and saw an opportuny to make money. They suggted that after police qutned the brothers, they asked Smollett for $1 ln each not to ttify agast him.</p><p class="">Smollett's lawyers also have argued that police shed to judgment when they charged Smollett. He ially <a href=" target="_blank">faced as many as 16 felony unts</a> volvg filg a false police report before prosecutors dropped the charg March 2019. Webb, the special prosecutor, <a href=" target="_blank">secured another dictment</a> last year.</p><p class="">Smollett said that the twistg saga has been "embarrassg" and that has ed him to lose out on work.</p><p class="">"I've lost my livelihood," he told the jury.</p><p class="">Smollett uld face up to three years prison if he is nvicted, although legal experts say his lack of a crimal rerd and the fact that no one was serly hurt might rult probatn and muny service.</p><p class="endmark"><em>Samira Pkar reported om Chigo and Erik Ortiz om New York.</em></p></div><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><div class="expand-byle-ntributors articleByleContaer"><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><span class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--no-image expand-byle__thumbnail"></span><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name">Samira Pkar</span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"></div></div><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><a href="><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></a></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name"><a href=">Erik Ortiz</a></span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Erik Ortiz is a senr reporter for NBC News Digal focg on racial jtice and social equaly.</p></div></div><div class="expand-ntributors">The Associated Prs<!-- --> <!-- -->ntributed<!-- -->.</div></div></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div data-ttid="right-rail-ntaer" class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div><span></span><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div 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Jsie Smollett, whose Empire character Jamal Lyon is gay, addrsed the speculatn about his own sexualy a heart-to-heart wh Ellen DeGener

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'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY

Jsie Smollett, who starred on the TV show Empire took the wns stand Monday at his trial on charg of stagg a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lyg to Chigo police about . * is smollet gay *

Actor and sger Jsie Smollett is one of the breakout stars of Fox's h drama Empire, and while much of the buzz surroundg him has foced on his talents, there's also been plenty said about his the show, he plays Jamal Lyon, a gay sger and the middle son of Luc (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) battlg his father's real life, Smollett's sexualy has been a topic of nversatn, and now he's settg the rerd an terview wh Ellen DeGener nducted backstage at Ellen, he nfirmed that he is gay and explaed why he's never felt the need to discs his personal life. "Until his nversatn wh DeGener, Smollett nsistently refed to discs his sexualy terviews, tellg Sway on his rad show a few weeks ago that fans shouldn't assume that he's gay.

EntertamentJsie Smollett, who starred on the TV show Empire took the wns stand Monday at his trial on charg of stagg a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lyg to Chigo police about . Smollett is acced of lyg to police when he reported he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack downtown Chigo nearly three years ago. (Charl Rex Arbogast/The Associated Prs)Jsie Smollett took the wns stand Monday at his trial on charg of stagg a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lyg to Chigo police about actor who starred on the TV show Empire is expected to share his acunt of what happened January 2019 an attempt to refute damagg ttimony om two brothers who ttified last week.

JSIE SMOLLETT: ‘I AM A GAY MAN. I AM A GAY MAN. I AM A GAY MAN’

Earlier this week, "Empire" actor Jsie Smollett nfirmed that he's gay a backstage terview wh Ellen DeGener, sayg, "There's never been a closet that I've been ." Smollett told Variety that the reactn sce that moment has been great. * is smollet gay *

They said Smollett, who is gay and Black, orchtrated the hoax to get publicy, givg them $100 US for suppli and stctg them to place a noose around his neck and yell homophobic slurs. They suggted that after the brothers, Abimbola and Olabgo Osundairo, were qutned by police about the alleged attack, they asked Smollett for $1 ln each to not ttify agast him at rts se at Smollett trial after star wnsJsie Smollett lawyer tells urt he's 'a real victim' of racist and homophobic attackSmollett's lawyers also have argued that Chigo police shed to judgment when they brought charg agast Smollett, and suggted a third person may have been volved the the wns stand Monday, Smollett told the jury how he grew up a close-kn fay of six children and started performg as a child actor before gettg more to said he "me to terms" wh his sexualy  his early 20s, when he got volved chary anizatns, cludg a group that fights AIDS the Black said he dned for the Empire role of a sger who is gay bee he had never seen a Black man portrayed that way.

Empire actor Jsie Smollett has announced to Ellen DeGener that he is gay — whout actually sayg .

Earlier this week, “Empire” actor Jsie Smollett nfirmed that he’s gay a backstage terview wh Ellen DeGener, sayg, “There’s never been a closet that I’ve been . Smollett’s character on “Empire, ” Jamal Lyon, who is also gay, explor the issu associated wh beg homosexual, cludg his tense relatnship wh his father.

JSIE SMOLLETT ‘HAD SEXUAL RELATNSHIP WH ALLEGED ATTACKER’ AND ‘MET HIM AT GAY CHIGO BATHHOE’

Empire's Jsie Smollett opened up about his sexualy OUT magaze's March 2016 issue; 'I am a gay man. I don’t know how many tim I have to say that,' he clared * is smollet gay *

“I am a gay man wh an extremely open heart. If I had to label myself, I would label myself as a gay man, ” the Empire actor, 31, told OUT’s Shana Naomi Krochmal.

JSIE SMOLLETT ADDRS GAY RUMORS, SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY: “THERE’S NEVER BEEN A CLOSET”

Smollett, whose Empire character, Jamal Lyon, is gay, ially addrsed the mors durg an appearance on The Ellen DeGener Show last March.

Why the f–k do you have to tell them that you’re gay?

JAKE SMOLLETT’S BGRAPHY: SIBLGS, WIFE, NET WORTH, FAY. GAY?

It do not mean that homosexualy is not very real. But what I’m sayg is, I am a gay man.

I am a gay man.

PROSECUTN RTS AFTER BROTHERS TTIFY JSIE SMOLLETT DIRECTED THEM TO RRY OUT A FAKE RACIST AND ANTI-GAY ATTACK

DISGRACED Empire star Jsie Smollett and one of his alleged "attackers" Abimbola "Abel" Osundairo may have vised a gay Chigo bathhoe together, acrdg to reports. Now appears Smollett, who is openly gay, may have had a "sexual relatnship" wh Abel, Page Six reports.

It’s known as a bathhoe where a lot of affluent black gay men hang out. Abel and his brother Ola have nied they are gay, and sued Smollett's lawyers last year for suatg that there was a sexual relatnship between the actor and one of the brothers.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* IS SMOLLET GAY

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data-activy-map="le-byle-article-top">By <span class="byle-name">Samira Pkar</span> and <span class="byle-name"><a href=">Erik Ortiz</a></span></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">CHICAGO — Actor Jsie Smollett's fense team rted s se Tuday after he <a href=" target="_blank">returned to the stand</a> his crimal trial, sparrg wh prosecutors over the sequence of events 2019, when he says he was the victim of a hate crime attack, and blastg the ttimony of the two brothers volved the cint as "liars."</p><p class="">After more than a week of wns ttimony, the trial of Smollett, the once-risg star of the televisn show "Empire," is expected to ntue wh closg arguments Wednday.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">Smollett, 39, <a href=">is charged wh six unts of felony disorrly nduct</a>; prosecutors say he ma a false police report about the alleged attack. The se hg on whose narrative the jury term is more credible: that of Smollett, who ni havg mastermd an attack on himself to ga public sympathy and <a href=" target="_blank">raise his profile</a>, as prosecutors allege, or that of brothers Abimbola and Olabgo Osundairo, who mata that Smollett paid them to stage the attack.</p><p class="">Smollett, who is Black and gay, laid out what he says occurred early Jan. 29, 2019, as he was walkg home downtown Chigo after havg gotten food. He ttified this week that he heard someone yell "Empire" and "MAGA untry," a reference to former Print <a href=" target="_blank">Donald Tmp's mpaign slogan, "Make Ameri Great Aga,"</a> as well as racist and homophobic remarks.</p><p class="">Smollett said that he turned around and rpond g an expletive and that he was punched his left eye. Smollett, who is 5 feet, 11 ch tall, said he tried to fight back, ttifyg that the person who attacked him was bigger. He also said he saw a send assailant.</p><p class="">"It felt like somethg out of 'Looney Tun' adventur. It felt like someone massive g up to me. Not enough time to thk," Smollett said. "This person felt signifintly larger than me. Drsed dark cloth. A ski mask."</p><sectn class="le-vio le-vio---body"><div class="le-vio__background"><div class="le-vio__player"><div class="vioPlayer styl_vioPlayer__bL8AJ styl_adNotPlayg__Q51_C styl_alignDktopBottom__4cHaO styl_alignMobileBottom__bhgkQ" data-ttid="vio-player"><div class="vioSlate"><a href=" class="allowClicksOnPreview"><picture class=""><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet="><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet="><img loadg="lazy" src=" height="1080" width="1920"/></picture></a><div class="playButtonOuter absolute absolute-fill w100 dn-prt"><div class="absolute absolute-fill w100 df ems-center ems-center-m jtify-center jtify-center-m"><div class="play le-vio__play-button"><svg class="play--in" xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 15 15" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid" style="max-width:30px"><path d="M0 0v15l15-7.41z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div id="128055365783"></div></div></div></div><div class="le-vio__"><h2 class="le-vio__tle"><a href=">Jsie Smollett ttifi his own fense</a></h2><span class="le-vio__tail"><span>Dec. 7, 2021</span><span>01:23</span></span><div class="styl_share__n3Syu le-vio__share dn-prt"><div class="styl_shareExpanr__hVk8d le-vio__share-expanr styl_hoverEffect___Dj4s"><span class="styl_shareDot__9pfRZ le-vio__share-dot"></span><svg class="styl_shareClose__6BZxR le-vio__share-close" viewBox="0 0 15 15"><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="0" y2="15"></le><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="15" y2="0"></le></svg></div><div class="styl_shareList___M8wC le-vio__share-list"><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-facebook styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-twter styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="mailto:?subject=Jsie Smollett ttifi his own fense& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-email styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a></div></div></div></sectn><p class="">Unr cross-examatn, Smollett said he ially refed to give Chigo police his cellphone for their vtigatn bee he wanted his privacy. Asked by special prosecutor Dan Webb whether he was ncerned that the phone would show several lls to Abimbola Osundairo, Smollett said no.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">Smollett ttified that he first met Abimbola Osundairo 2017 at a club, where he learned that Osundairo also worked on the "Empire" set. He said they did dgs together and went to a bathhoe, where they "ma out." He said they later did more dgs and participated sex acts together.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_small__5hUB_"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Image: Abimbola Osundairo" height="1667" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Abimbola Osundairo at the Leighton Crimal Courthoe Chigo after a lunch break the trial of actor Jsie Smollett on Dec. 1. </span><span class="ptn__source">Charl Rex Arbogast / AP</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Abimbola Osundairo ttified last week that he and Smollett did not have a sexual relatnship.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><p class="">Before the staged attack, Osundairo said, Smollett sent him a text msage about needg to talk secretly "on the low." He said that durg the nversatn, Smollett brought up orchtratg a planned asslt. Smollett said the text msage was reference to an illegal steroid that Osundairo had told him he uld get om Nigeria.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><p class="">Abimbola and Olabgo Osundairo, who are Black, also ttified last week that Smollett stcted them to yell "this is MAGA untry" durg the asslt.</p><p class="">Smollett reerated Tuday: "They're liars. They also said I had somethg to do wh , and I didn't."</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">Defense attorneys have suggted that the Osundairo brothers acced Smollett of stagg the hoax bee they disliked him and saw an opportuny to make money. They suggted that after police qutned the brothers, they asked Smollett for $1 ln each not to ttify agast him.</p><p class="">Smollett's lawyers also have argued that police shed to judgment when they charged Smollett. He ially <a href=" target="_blank">faced as many as 16 felony unts</a> volvg filg a false police report before prosecutors dropped the charg March 2019. Webb, the special prosecutor, <a href=" target="_blank">secured another dictment</a> last year.</p><p class="">Smollett said that the twistg saga has been "embarrassg" and that has ed him to lose out on work.</p><p class="">"I've lost my livelihood," he told the jury.</p><p class="">Smollett uld face up to three years prison if he is nvicted, although legal experts say his lack of a crimal rerd and the fact that no one was serly hurt might rult probatn and muny service.</p><p class="endmark"><em>Samira Pkar reported om Chigo and Erik Ortiz om New York.</em></p></div><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><div class="expand-byle-ntributors articleByleContaer"><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><span class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--no-image expand-byle__thumbnail"></span><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name">Samira Pkar</span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"></div></div><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><a href="><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></a></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name"><a href=">Erik Ortiz</a></span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Erik Ortiz is a senr reporter for NBC News Digal focg on racial jtice and social equaly.</p></div></div><div class="expand-ntributors">The Associated Prs<!-- --> <!-- -->ntributed<!-- -->.</div></div></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div data-ttid="right-rail-ntaer" class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div><span></span><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div 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