Jussie Smollett’s $50K Charity Settlement with Chicago Explained
Clearly, you’ve been out of the loop if you haven’t heard about Jussie Smollett’s latest truce with the City of Chicago—so let me simplify it for you. After a years-long saga that began with Smollett’s now-infamous 2019 assault claims, the embattled Empire alum agreed this week to drop all legal hostilities in exchange for a $50,000 donation to a charity of his choice. This fresh peace pact resolves the city’s bid to recoup police overtime costs incurred during their massive investigation into what officials concluded was a staged hoax. According to court filings and a Cook County Sheriff’s Office press statement obtained by TMZ, the settlement explicitly requires Smollett to file proof of payment by early July 2025.
If you somehow missed the background, here’s the rundown: Smollett claimed he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019, igniting national headlines and a Chicago PD probe that ultimately labeled the incident a “publicity stunt.” Prosecutors first charged him with filing a false police report, only to unexpectedly drop all counts in March 2019. Undeterred, in 2021 Smollett was re-indicted, convicted, then later pardoned by Illinois’ governor in 2023. Meanwhile, the city pursued civil remedies, billing Smollett for more than $130,000 in police and emergency services costs. Now, nearly six years after that bitter headline war began, both sides are finally calling it quits.
Sources familiar with the confidential settlement tell People Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times that Smollett chose a local nonprofit focusing on crisis intervention and community rebuilding—likely aiming to mend his public image while sidestepping any admission of guilt. Legal analysts at Law360 note that by forgoing a protracted court battle, Smollett avoids having to disclose detailed financial records, and the city spares taxpayers further litigation expenses. This outcome also closes the book on any future subpoenas or depositions tied to this chapter, effectively granting Smollett a clean slate on the civil side, though public opinion may remain split.
So yes, that $50K check marks the final page in one of the most sensational celebrity-courtroom sagas of the decade. You’re welcome for the crash course—glad I could demystify all that legalese for you, and hopefully that wasn’t too elementary.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, People Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, Cook County Sheriff’s Office press release
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
