Empire actor denied being homophobic, saying he’d worked in a gay club as a bouncer. He’d also worked as a “Trojan Warrior” at a Pride festival, giving out condoms.In a further twist, Smollett’s defense team also tried to call a mistrial, claiming the judge lunged at one of the attorneys during a sidebar meeting.Smollett, an actor and singer, faces several counts of disorderly conduct for lying to the police.
It relates to an alleged hate crime he says he suffered in January 2019.Related: The never ending Jussie Smollett hate crime drama is finally heading into its final actHe claims he was beaten up by two men in masks.