Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson extended support for Jussie Smollet ahead of his sentence.
Before Jussie’s sentencing on Thursday, letters from Jackson, Richardson, Black Lives Matter, and Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition were read aloud in the Chicago courtroom.
“It is with the respect of knowing this. That I humbly implore you to please find an alternative to incarceration for Jussie Smollett,” Jackson wrote in his letter. “It is my understanding that Jussie was convicted of Class 4 disorderly conduct. Which to my understanding, people convicted of this offense historically are sentenced to various alternatives to incarceration.”
Jackson continued, “Jussie has already suffered a great deal of punishment as this situation has destroyed his existing career and impugned his reputation. Please, Judge Linn, in God’s name, please save this young man and allow him to be of service. Jussie Smollett is worth the risk and the investment.”
Jussie later spoke with Entertainment Tonight and said the couple, “give service in every way we possibly can.”
The letters encouraged the judge to consider how the verdict could impact the actor’s life and career.
“There are wrongs that need to be righted, and someone’s gotta stand up because if we don’t stand up for anything, we’ll fall for everything,” Jackson added to his letter.
In addition, the letters urged the court to avoid giving Jussie jail time and claimed he’s at risk behind bars. They also mentioned Jussie’s race, sexual preferences, and Jewish background.
Jussie will serve 150 days behind bars and 30 months on federal probation. Judge Lin also ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution.
