Actor Jussie Smollett showed up in Los Angeles carrying a book with “Narcotics Anonymous” on it in his first appearance after it was announced the troubled star was headed to rehab.
Smollett’s representatives made the announcement Wednesday after what they called an “extremely difficult past few years” as the artist continues to try to appeal his conviction in Chicago.
He was seen carrying a “Narcotics Anonymous” book as he walked into an outpatient clinic in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Smollett wore a black hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, a black baseball cap, sunglasses and a white T-shirt and sneakers.
The actor and singer revealed a freshly shaved head as he got into his car and drove away.
Actor Jussie Smollett appeared in Los Angeles holding a book with ‘Narcotics Anonymous’ written on it during his first appearance after it was announced the troubled star was headed to rehab
Smollett was seen carrying a ‘Narcotics Anonymous’ book as he walked into an LA outpatient clinic
Smollett awaits a decision from a Chicago judge on his appeal for allegedly faking a hate crime
He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, a black baseball cap, sunglasses and a white T-shirt and sneakers
The actor and singer revealed a freshly shaved head as he got into his car and drove away
‘Jussie has had an extremely difficult time in recent years. He has been quietly working very hard for some time and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps.” a spokesperson for the actor said in a statement
The Empire star has appealed his December 2021 conviction for orchestrating an anti-gay, racist attack on himself and then lying to Chicago police about it.
Smollett is in an unknown location, according to an outpatient clinic TMZ.
‘Jussie has had an extremely difficult time in recent years. He has been quietly working very hard for some time and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps.” a spokesperson for the actor said in a statement.
It is unknown what exactly Smollett is going to rehab for, but testimony at the trial indicated heavy drug use.
Smollett called for a new trial in March after being jailed for organizing the attack on himself.
During the police investigation, Chicago officers concluded that Smollett had hired brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo to carry out the crime. Last year he was sentenced to 150 days in prison.
In the 102-page appeal, they wrote: “Mr. Smollett’s constitutional rights to due process and due process were denied by prosecutorial misconduct, including allegations that a defense witness was pressured to change his statement… and shift the burden during closing arguments.”
Smollett was convicted in December of five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack that he said was perpetrated by Trump supporters shouting “this is MAGA -land.’
Jussie Smollett poses for a photo of a Cook County jail booking after being convicted of the kidnapping hoax
He told Chicago police that he was approached on a dark street by two masked strangers.
According to his account of the attack, the attackers threw a noose around his neck and poured chemicals on him while shouting racist and homophobic slurs and expressing support for then-President Donald Trump.
The two attackers were Nigerian brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, who are black.
The brothers, who testified in court, told the jury that Smollett hired them to fake the attack because he wanted to boost his celebrity profile.
Smollett later claimed that in the days before the stunt, when prosecutors said he and the brothers were rehearsing the attack, they actually got together to smoke marijuana.
Smollett has appealed his December 2021 conviction for committing an anti-gay, racist attack on himself and then lying about it to Chicago police
Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack that he said was perpetrated by Trump supporters shouting, “This is MAGA- country.’ Police said Smollett cut off his own cheek to make it appear as if he had suffered injuries in the attack
He shocked the court by claiming he ‘kissed’ and ‘masturbated’ with Abimbola Osundairo during a visit to a bathhouse.
The actor told the jury he thought the brothers staged the attack on him to scare him into thinking he needed bodyguards and give them the job.
In March 2022, three months after a jury found him guilty of disorderly conduct, a judge sentenced the actor to 150 days in jail.
Smollett was six days into his sentence when an appeals court ordered his release from custody pending an appeal of his conviction and sentence.
The Osundairo brothers have since filed a defamation lawsuit, claiming that Smollett’s comments were part of an attempt to portray them as racist, homophobic and violent men who actually attacked him.
Jussie Smollett was found guilty of orchestrating and reporting a false hate crime against himself
Jussie Smollett raises his fist to proclaim his innocence as he is escorted to the Leighton Criminal Courthouse during his sentencing for assault on himself in Chicago, March 10, 2022
