Actor Jussie Smollett appeared in Los Angeles holding a book with ‘Narcotics Anonymous’ on it, in what is his first appearance after it was announced the troubled star was headed to rehab.
He plans to appeal his conviction
Smollett’s reps made the announcement Wednesday after what they called an ‘extremely difficult past few years’ as the performer still attempts to appeal his conviction in Chicago for a hoax kidnapping.
The actor was seen carrying a ‘Narcotics Anonymous’ book walking into an outpatient facility in Los Angeles Thursday.
Smollett wore a black hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, black baseball cap, sunglasses and a white t-shirt and sneakers.
The actor and singer revealed a freshly-shaven head when he headed into his car and drove away.
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The Empire star 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.
Smollett is in an outpatient facility at an unknown location, according to TMZ.
Why Jussie headed to rehab
‘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.
It’s not known what exactly Smollett is headed to rehab for, but testimony during the 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.’
