Jussie Smollett goes to rehab after ‘extremely difficult past few years’ as he appeals his conviction for hoax kidnapping in Chicago

Actor Jussie Smollett is heading to rehab after what his representatives call an “extremely difficult past few years,” as the artist continues to try to appeal his conviction in Chicago.

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.

According to TMZ, Smollett is in an outpatient clinic at an unknown location.

‘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 carried out by Trump supporters shouting “this is MAGA land’.

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.

Empire actor Jussie Smollett has appealed his December 2021 conviction for staging 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

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.

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.

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

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.