Jussie Smollett is currently in rehab and is receiving treatment from an outpatient program, a representative for the actor confirmed in a statement to TMZ on Wednesday.
“Jussie has had an extremely difficult past few years,” Smollett’s representative told the celebrity news outlet. “He has quietly been working very hard for some time now and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps.”
Smollett’s time in rehab comes amid him awaiting an appeal from his Chicago criminal case that dates back to 2019, when he was found guilty of lying to police about being attacked by two masked Trump supporters, who he then alleged attacked him, put a noose around his neck and doused him in bleach.
Following the incident, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail but was released early due to an appeal. In the time since the controversy, Smollett has been getting back into his career and has started directing as the legal process continued. Per TMZ, he’s been spotted working on film sets, one of which includes a project with actress Vivica A. Fox.
In addition to recently being seen on a hike in Los Angeles with his former Empire co-star Taraji P. Henson, Smollett attended last year’s BET Awards, which drew backlash from viewers of the program online on social media. The year prior, Smollett attended the premiere of B-Boy Blues — which served as his directorial debut — at New York City’s AMC Magic Johnson Harlem theater in November 2021.
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