Jussie Smollett was seen reading Matthew Perry’s harrowing memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which details the late star’s lifelong battle with addiction, after reportedly entering an outpatient rehab facility in mid-October.
While sitting outside a coffee shop in Studio City, California on Tuesday afternoon, the 41-year-old disgraced actor, who recently lost his appeal of his conviction for staging an anti-gay, racist attack on himself, appeared engrossed in Perry’s autobiography, which was released last year.
During his laid-back outing, the Empire star cut a casual figure in a black hoodie over a grey t-shirt, sweatpants and a pair of black and white striped slides.
After putting his book down, Smollett answered a phone call and opened his MacBook.
Book worm: Jussie Smollett was seen reading Matthew Perry’s harrowing memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which details the late star’s lifelong battle with addiction, after reportedly entering an outpatient rehab facility in mid-October
Focused: While sitting outside a coffee shop in Studio City, California on Tuesday afternoon, the 41-year-old disgraced actor, who lost his appeal earlier this month of his conviction for staging an anti-gay, racist attack on himself , appeared engrossed in Perry’s autobiography
He seemingly tried to fly under the radar as he wore his hood over a burnt orange beanie and kept to himself.
This fall, TMZ reported that Smollett was receiving treatment at an outpatient facility at an unknown location.
‘Jussie has had an extremely difficult past few years. He has quietly been working very hard for some time now and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps.’ a spokesperson for the actor said in a statement, at the time.
It’s not known what exactly Smollett is headed to rehab for, but testimony during his latest trial hinted at heavy drug use.
Smollett called for a new trial in March after being jailed for staging the attack on himself.
During the police probe, Chicago cops concluded Smollett had hired brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo to carry out the crime. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail last year.
In the 102-page appeal, they wrote: ‘Mr. Smollett’s constitutional rights to due process and to a fair trial were denied by prosecutorial misconduct including allegations that a defense witness was pressured to change his statement…and shifting 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 claimed was perpetrated by Trump supporters who screamed ‘this is MAGA country.’
He told Chicago police he had been accosted on a darkened street by two masked strangers.
Harrowing: Perry’s autobiography was released last year
Low profile: During his laid-back outing, the Empire star cut a casual figure in a black hoodie over a grey t-shirt, sweatpants and a pair of black and white striped slides
Caffeinated: The actor sipped on a warm beverage as he sat outside
Staying busy: After putting his book down, Smollett answered a phone call and opened his MacBook
Casual: He seemingly tried to fly under the radar as he wore his hood over a burnt orange beanie and kept to himself
According to his account of the attack, the assailants threw a noose around his neck and poured chemicals on him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs and expressing support for then-President Donald Trump.
The two assaulters were Nigerian brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, who are Black.
The brothers, who testified in court, told the jury Smollett hired them to fake the attack because he wanted to boost his celebrity profile.
Smollett later claimed in the days before the stunt, when prosecutors said he and the brothers were rehearsing the attack, they were actually getting together to smoke marijuana.
He shocked the court by claiming he ‘made out with’ and ‘masturbated’ with Abimbola Osundairo during a visit to a bathhouse.
Smollett filed an appeal of the December 2021 conviction for staging an anti-gay, racist attack on himself and then lying to Chicago police about it; pictured in 2019
Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack he said was perpetrated by Trump supporters who screamed ‘this is MAGA country. Police said Smollett cut his own cheek to make it look like he had suffered injuries in the attack
Jussie Smollett was found guilty of orchestrating and reporting a false hate crime on himself (seen in 2019)
The actor told the jury he thought the brothers staged the attack on him to try to scare him into thinking he needed bodyguards, and to give them the job.
In March 2022, three months after a jury found him guilty of felony 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, alleging that Smollett’s comments were part of an effort to portray them as racist, homophobic and violent men who truly attacked him.