Netflix Releases ‘The Truth About Jussie Smollett?’: A New Look at a Polarizing Case

A new documentary revisits one of the most polarizing and complex celebrity legal sagas of recent years, presenting the case of Jussie Smollett not as a closed chapter but as an open question. The film, titled The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, examines the incident from 2019 in which the former Empire actor reported he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack, an event that investigators later alleged was a hoax orchestrated by Smollett himself. The documentary constructs its narrative around the central ambiguity of the case, inviting viewers to weigh conflicting accounts and decide on the nature of the truth.

A Story of Competing Truths

The 90-minute film builds its narrative through a multi-perspective approach, weaving together competing testimonies from key figures involved in the case. This includes first-hand interviews with the investigating police officers, lawyers from both sides of the legal battle, and journalists who covered the story as it unfolded. Central to the documentary is the participation of Jussie Smollett, who provides his own account on camera for the first time in a feature of this kind.

Within its framework, the documentary presents what Smollett has described as previously unreleased footage of the 2019 incident. This material, which his supporters claim corroborates his version of events, was reportedly obtained by investigative journalists through a Freedom of Information Act request. Smollett has stated the footage was obtained by his legal team too late to be included as evidence in his 2021 trial. The film places this evidence alongside the accounts of law enforcement and the established timeline of events, creating a narrative structure that juxtaposes Smollett’s claims of innocence against the official investigation’s findings. Director Gagan Rehill has stated that he wanted the film to explore the specific cultural moment in 2019 when society was becoming more polarized and divergent over a shared reality, aiming to balance the competing narratives through the testimonies of the key players involved.

The Truth About Jussie Smollett?

Revisiting the 2019 Chicago Incident

The documentary chronicles the events that unfolded in January 2019. The incident was preceded by a threatening letter sent to the Chicago studio where Empire was filmed, which contained a white powder later identified as Tylenol. Police later alleged that Smollett sent the letter to himself after it failed to generate the attention he desired. Days later, Smollett told Chicago police he was attacked in the city’s Streeterville neighborhood. He reported that two assailants yelled racial and homophobic slurs, poured bleach on him, and placed a noose around his neck, also shouting a political slogan. The initial investigation and public outcry quickly gave way to a different story. Within weeks, the Chicago Police Department alleged that Smollett had paid two brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, $3,500 to stage the attack. Investigators reported that financial records and security footage showed the brothers purchasing the rope, ski masks, and a red hat used in the incident.

This led to a protracted and convoluted legal journey. Smollett was initially indicted on 16 felony counts for filing a false police report, but those charges were abruptly dropped by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office in March 2019. Following public criticism of that decision, a special prosecutor was appointed to re-examine the case. This resulted in a new six-count indictment in 2020. In December 2021, a jury convicted Smollett on five of those counts of disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of felony probation, and ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city and a $25,000 fine. He was released after six days pending an appeal. In a final legal turn in November 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the conviction, ruling that the second prosecution violated Smollett’s due process rights based on the initial non-prosecution agreement. The court’s decision did not rule on the factual merits of the case. A separate civil lawsuit filed by the City of Chicago to recoup investigation costs was settled in May 2025 through charitable donations made by Smollett.

From the Makers of Viral Deception Stories

The film is a Netflix production from the UK-based company Raw, which is known for producing other popular true-crime documentaries for the streaming service, including The Tinder Swindler and Don’t F**k with Cats. The documentary is directed by Gagan Rehill, who also directed the Netflix docuseries Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal. The project’s executive producers are Tom Sheahan and Tim Wardle. The production team’s background in stories centered on modern deception, media manipulation, and internet-fueled scandals informs the documentary’s narrative style, which focuses on the characters and conflicting psychologies at the heart of the story.

By assembling the key participants and presenting their divergent accounts, the documentary aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the incident and its aftermath. It lays out the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense, leaving the audience to navigate the intricate details and arrive at their own conclusion.

The 90-minute documentary, The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, premiered on Netflix on August 22, 2025.