Jussie Smollett may be attempting a Hollywood comeback, but a hard line from the attorney representing the brothers he allegedly hired to stage his 2019 attack suggests otherwise. Gloria Rodriguez, counsel for Abel and Ola Osundairo, bluntly asserts that unless Smollett is honest about what happened, his attempts at redemption will remain futile.
Rodriguez told TMZ that Smollett’s career “will always hang over his head” if he doesn’t come clean, and that the public is “tired of his lies.” She added that if Smollett truly wants to reclaim the career trajectory he once had, he needs to provide “genuine reflections” and admit that the incident was a prank that spiraled out of control.
Smollett has continued to maintain the original narrative—an alleged hate crime at the hands of masked MAGA supporters in Chicago. In a recent interview with Variety, he renewed his accusations against the Chicago Police Department and former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, calling them “villains” in the unfolding saga.
Rodriguez dismissed his claims outright, pointing out that Mayor Emanuel had no authority to press criminal charges and emphasizing that the brothers’ version of events was supported by both a jury and law enforcement. Her firm stance: Smollett can’t expect support unless he disavows his long-held story and acknowledges the truth.
This warning comes as Smollett pushes multiple creative projects—including new music, a directorial role, and an upcoming Fox reality show—all devised to rebuild his public image. Rodriguez believes that without meaningful accountability, those efforts will fall flat.
The demand for an admission from Smollett punctuates the broader conversation surrounding canceled celebrities attempting comebacks. In Smollett’s case, the lingering shadow of controversy may prove especially entrenched without a moment of contrition.
