Actor Jussie Smollett cast himself as a reluctant hero following Cook County announcing it was dropping charges against the progressive activist and entertainer.
“First of all, I want to thank my family, my friends, the incredible people of Chicago, and all over the country and the world who have prayed for me, who have supported me, who have shown me so much love,” Smollett told reporters Tuesday. “No one will ever know how much that’s meant to me and I will be forever grateful. I want you to know not for a moment was it in vain.”
Smollett said he’s been truthful about the incident since the beginning.
“I’ve been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one,” he claimed. “I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I’ve been accused of. This has been an incredibly difficult time, honestly one of the worst of my entire life but it I am a man of faith and a man of knowledge of history and I wouldn’t bring my family through this, I just wouldn’t.”
Smollett’s comments ended triumphantly, with a pledge to continue working on behalf of marginalized communities.
“I want to thank my legal counsel from the bottom of my heart and I would also like to thank the state of Illinois for attempting to do what’s right,” he said. “Now, I would like nothing more than to just get back to work and move on with my life. But make no mistake, I will always continue to fight for the justice, equality, and betterment of marginalized people everywhere. Again, thank you for all the support, thank you for faith, and thank you to god. bless you all. Thank you very much.”