Rollingout.com

Taraji P. Henson reveals shocking news on Jussie Smollet’s ‘Empire’ role

Rollingout.com — Smollett initially faced 64 years in prison after prosecutors claimed that he lied about an attack he reported as a hate crime. He had told police he was assaulted at 2 a.m. by two men who shouted homophobic and racist slurs at him and put a noose around his neck. In the more detailed account, he claimed that he fought back and that one of the attackers was White.

Published

7 years ago

April 5, 2019

A.R. Shaw

By A.R. Shaw

Taraji P. Henson shared her thoughts on Jussie Smollett during an interview with “The View.” After being questioned by Joy Behar, Henson told the hosts that she continues to have communication with Smollett.

A.R. Shaw

“[I talk] to him all the time, and he’s doing well,” Henson said.

When asked if Smollett will be back on “Empire,” Henson said, “Yes. I haven’t heard anything else.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, Smollett struck a deferred deal with prosecutors where he will forfeit the $10,000 bond in exchange for all 16 counts of disorderly conduct to be dropped.

Smollett initially faced 64 years in prison after prosecutors claimed that he lied about an attack he reported as a hate crime. He had told police he was assaulted at 2 a.m. by two men who shouted homophobic and racist slurs at him and put a noose around his neck. In the more detailed account, he claimed that he fought back and that one of the attackers was White.

Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson claimed that Smollett was “dissatisfied with his salary” on “Empire” and attempted to get attention by sending a fake letter that used racist and homophobic language. When that didn’t garner enough attention, Smollett planned the attack, according to Johnson.

“Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack and drag Chicago’s reputation through the mud in the process,” Johnson said. “The stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with his salary. So he concocted a story about being attacked.”

Smollett initially told police that he was attacked in Chicago on Jan. 29, 2019, by two masked men who reportedly yelled, “This is MAGA country,” and used racial and homophobic slurs. During the attack, Smollett said the men poured a chemical substance on him and tied a rope around his neck.

However, police questioned two brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, on Feb. 15. Police learned that the brothers purchased the rope from an Ace Hardware store in the Chicago area. CBS reports that the brothers were paid $3,500 before leaving for Nigeria and were promised an additional $500 upon their return.

The indictment read: “Jussie Smollett knew that at the time of this transmission there was no reasonable ground for believing that such an offense had been committed.”

Smollett maintained his innocence throughout the process and lost work due to the case. His role was cut from the final three episodes of “Empire’s” new season.

In a statement, Cook County state’s attorney’s office gave their explanation on why all charges were dropped.

“After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollet’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago,” the statement read, “we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.”

This article originally appeared in Rollingout.com.

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VIce President Kamala Harris confident Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘will be 1 of the greatest’

ROLLING OUT — In an exclusive interview with rolling out president Rashad Richey, US Vice President Kamala Harris shares her take on HBCU funding, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Russia/Ukraine situation and more.
The post VIce President Kamala Harris confident Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘will be 1 of the greatest’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 years ago

March 24, 2022

Rolling Out

In an exclusive interview with rolling out president Rashad Richey, US Vice President Kamala Harris shares her take on HBCU funding, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Russia/Ukraine situation and more.

The post VIce President Kamala Harris confident Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘will be 1 of the greatest’ appeared first on Rolling Out.

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Ex-NFL star Chris Johnson accused of masterminding murder-for-hire scheme

ROLLINGOUT.COM — Prosecutors relied on testimony from the informant, who alleged that Johnson forked over a handsome stack of bills to have rising gang member Dominic Bolden kill the suspected shooters. The informant said Bolden successfully carried out the murderous mission, killing one of the suspected drive-by shooters on Jan. 19, 2016, and the other on June 24 of the same year.

Published

6 years ago

April 11, 2020

Oakland Post

Former star NFL running back Chris Johnson. (Image source: Instagram – @chrisjohnsontwo8)

By Terry Shropshire, RollingOut.com

Former NFL star running back Chris Johnson is accused of planning and financing a successful “murder-for-hire” scheme that left two dead and being heavily involved in a major drug trafficking operation in central Florida, prosecutors allege.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, an informant claimed that Johnson sought and obtained retribution after alleged gang members shot him and killed his friend in a drive-by shooting in Orlando, Florida, on March 8, 2015.

Prosecutors relied on testimony from the informant, who alleged that Johnson forked over a handsome stack of bills to have rising gang member Dominic Bolden kill the suspected shooters. The informant said Bolden successfully carried out the murderous mission, killing one of the suspected drive-by shooters on Jan. 19, 2016, and the other on June 24 of the same year.

Bolden’s reward was multipronged, the informant said in an affidavit, according to the documents obtained by TMZ. Not only did Bolden get the bag for killing Johnson’s gang enemies, but he also rose up the ranks of the local gang in Florida, eventually becoming the “de facto leader” of the drug trafficking organization (DTO). Thirdly, Johnson allegedly provided seed money and a major contact in order for Bolden to traffic as much narcotics as possible, according to the documents.

Neither the state’s attorney’s office nor the Florida attorney general returned media inquiries to confirm this information.

Johnson, 34, who last played in the NFL in 2017, has not been charged with any crime and vehemently denied involvement in any murder or drug operation through his representative.

The former star running back rose to national fame when he rushed for more than 2,000 yards for the Tennessee Titans, a rare feat in the NFL. He played six of his 10 seasons with the Titans before being traded to the New York Jets.

The post Ex-NFL star Chris Johnson accused of masterminding murder-for-hire scheme appeared first on Rolling Out.

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NBA player tests positive for COVID-19, rest of season suspended indefinitely

ROLLINGOUT — Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert has contracted COVID-19 ESPN reports. But the sports news station stated that Gobert was not in the arena at the time he discovered that he has the virus.

Published

6 years ago

March 12, 2020

Oakland Post

The National Basketball Association has just decided to suspend the rest of the season due to the coronavirus, ESPN reported at about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

The NBA commissioner and the owners have decided to go on an indefinite hiatus after one of its star players tested positive for the potentially deadly virus.

Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert has contracted COVID-19, ESPN reports. But the sports news station stated that Gobert was not in the arena at the time he discovered that he has the virus.

NBA To Suspend Season Following Tonight’s Games pic.twitter.com/2PTx2fkLlW
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2020

When the NBA learned of Gobert’s condition, the NBA leaders met up and decided to immediately halt the current Jazz game and then decided to quit playing.

The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets, however, are allowed to continue to play out their game in Texas as owner Mark Cuban and some in the arena have just come to grips with this shocking news.

Cuban relayed that he is in shock at how fast this pandemic is developing and the catastrophic economic and health ramifications that appear to be headed the country’s way. He also said many of the players know of what is happening as Cuban overheard players talking on the bench about Gobert and the NBA season suspension.