Netflix’s new documentary, The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, has put the actor back in the news. The film looks into the 2019 situation in Chicago, where Jussie Smollett said he was attacked because he was gay and black. At first, it seemed like a terrible thing that gained support from all over, but it quickly became a scandal with claims that it was faked, a trial, and lots of different feelings from people.
Looking Back at the Incident
The film begins to tell the story of Smollett and what he said that night: Two people attacked him, shouted the slurs, put bleach on him, put a noose around his neck, and talked about the MAGA country. The story shut down, and people were angry and resistant to Smollett, then back to the TV show Empire. But the support didn’t last. The Chicago police started investigating, and soon people started to wonder if he was telling the truth.
The Investigation and Legal Mess
Things took a turn when detectives tied the incident to Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, two brothers who knew Smollett. Cops found proof that they bought the stuff used in the attack and got paid by the actor. Security videos and money trails made people even more suspicious. The film also sees Smollett’s 2021 conviction for lying to the police. Then, in 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court convicted a technologist. Even though the case was left, the court did not say that he was innocent, so some questions are still in the air.
The Netflix approach
Instead of giving straight answers, the Netflix movie plays with not being clear. It has talks with Smollett, the Osundairo brothers, cops, and reporters. The documentary suggests that the police might have messed up, but it doesn’t really provide solid proof for that. Because of this, some critics argue that the film seems to focus more on being thrilling rather than being straightforward. So, it gets people talking instead of solving the case.
Mixed Reviews and Responses
So, opinions on this doc are all over the place. Some critics are calling it thought-provoking, but others think it gives conspiracy theories too much airtime. For instance, The Guardian called it “reckless and implausible,” while Decider said it does a good job of questioning what we think we know, even if it gets a little carried away with guessing. No question, the doc has got people talking again. By showing different sides of the story and not giving easy answers, it really brings home how stories can be twisted and fought over in the media these days.
Smollett tells his side
The documentary lets you hear from Jussie Smollett himself. He still says that he did not make the attack fake. He claims that he made the money given to the Osundero Brothers for workout training and diet advice, not for a story. Smollett also says that the whole thing made him embarrassed and less of a man, making him feel that he was doing an injustice to the news and courts.
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Wrapping Up
Truth about Jussie Smollett ? It doesn’t actually declare whether he’s guilty or innocent. Instead, it presents a complicated situation full of contradictions, with people lacking trust in one another and many unanswered questions. The movie gives various characters a chance to share their perspectives, leaving it up to the audience to form their own opinions. If you’re looking for a straightforward conclusion, you might be disappointed. But the film does a good job of thinking about truth, fame, and how news tells stories. It makes you wonder how we tell and remember stories like Jussie Smollett’s.
Written by Nidhi Singh